Knicks’ Dominant Victory Boosts Championship Aspirations
The New York Knicks displayed their potential with a commanding 118-85 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Mikal Bridges led the charge with 31 points, shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 7-for-12 from three.
While Bridges was the standout, the Knicks’ scoring was well-distributed. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 14 points, and Jalen Brunson added 16, though both had less efficient shooting nights, combining for just 8-for-23. However, Josh Hart (12 points) and Miles McBride (13 points) were highly efficient, shooting 10-for-18 as a pair.
The win highlighted the Knicks’ potential not just offensively, but defensively too. While the Pelicans, at 4-17, aren’t the toughest opponents, holding any NBA team to just 85 points in today’s game is noteworthy. This victory is especially significant for a team that has struggled defensively all season, ranking 22nd with a defensive rating of 114.6, far from their strong offensive rating of 121.1.
The Knicks’ defense was evident early, as the Pelicans managed only 10 points in the first quarter and 18 in the second, leaving New York with a commanding 57-28 lead at halftime. CJ McCollum was New Orleans’ top scorer with just 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting.
This win showcased the team fans hoped for: a high-powered offense backed by strong defense. If the Knicks can sustain even a fraction of this defensive effort for the rest of the season, they will emerge as serious title contenders. With the offense already in place, it’s now about maintaining defensive consistency.
The victory was much-needed after a mixed five-game road trip, where the Knicks went 3-2 but struggled against teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and even in a win against the Charlotte Hornets on Black Friday. Sunday’s blowout was a crucial bounce-back.
Next up, the Knicks will continue their homestand with an NBA Cup game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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