Game ID: 22500454
New York Knicks @ New Orleans Pelicans
Monday, December 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 41 34 28 22 125NYK 37 35 24 34 130
NOP vs NYK ScoutingNOP vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 25 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 7 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 27 min since (114% of 24)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 31 min (146% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 26 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 8 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (81% of 30)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 27 min since (114% of 24)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 10 min since (66% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Jordan missed 27 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 9 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (79% of 30)
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 31 min since (146% of 21)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 11 min since (75% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 12 min since (90% of 14)
NOP availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 28 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 10 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 26 min since (126% of 21)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 12 min since (90% of 14)
NOP availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 29 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 11 since 12/04, returns tonight: 24 min (164% of 15)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 12 min (87% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 10 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 26 min since (122% of 21)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 9 min since (60% of 15)
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 30 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 11 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 26 min since (122% of 21)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 24 min since (164% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 12 min since (87% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 20 min (94% of 22)
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 24 min (116% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 31 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 20 min (136% of 15)
OUT Alexander missed 12 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 21 min since (143% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 13 min since (96% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 32 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 13 since 12/06, returns tonight: 2 min (20% of 12)
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (94% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 24 min since (116% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 14 min since (105% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 7 since 12/23, returns tonight: 35 min (123% of 28)
OUT Murray missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 33 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (92% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (95% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (20% of 12)
NYK availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 3 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 11 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 4 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 12 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Kolek 11 to 18 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 5 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 13 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Hart 31 to 37 min over the last 3
NEW Robinson 18 to 25 min over the last 3
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Kolek 11 to 24 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 6 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 14 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Clarkson 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 7 since 12/09, returns tonight: 18 min (78% of 24)
OUT Shamet missed 15 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 16 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 18 min since (78% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 17 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 22 min since (94% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Hart missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 18 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 12/29, returns tonight: 19 min (103% of 18)
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 25 min since (106% of 24)
NEW Kolek 11 to 18 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 19 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 26 min since (112% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (103% of 18)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 32 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (3 straight), Murray (3 straight), Jordan (29 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 34 and Towns at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McBride (7 straight), Shamet (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-6 and the arc, New York at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it New York 119, New Orleans 118, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/22 vs DAL 119-113 — NOP notes
NOP won 119-113. NOP shot 45% (44 of 97) to DAL's 44%, 8 of 34 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DAL's 21 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. Williamson led with 24 (10 of 14); Bey added 19, Queen 19. The hinge was Q4, 40-26: NOP came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 6. NOP trailed 57-63 at the half and won the second half 62-50. Queen was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/23 @ CLE 118-141 — NOP notes
NOP lost 118-141. NOP shot 46% (43 of 94) to CLE's 53%, 11 of 26 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CLE's 11 — 21 points from the stripe to their 9. Williamson led with 26 (9 of 15, 8 of 9 at the line); Queen added 21, Murphy III 14. Q2 was theirs, 38-37, the deficit cut from 10 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 104-80 against them. Alvarado's -18 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs PHX 108-115 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-115. NOP shot 44% (39 of 88) to PHX's 48%, 5 of 25 from three, and went to the line 42 times to PHX's 25 — 25 points from the stripe to their 19. NOP turned it over 12 times to PHX's 17. The glass went 38-52 against them. Williamson led with 20 (5 of 10, 10 of 14 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Poole 19. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 5 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 87-76 against them. Bey's -22 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs PHX 114-123 — NOP notes
NOP lost 114-123. NOP shot 44% (38 of 87) to PHX's 46%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 33 times to PHX's 19 — 29 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 43-55 against them. Murphy III led with 24 (6 of 12, 6 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Williamson added 22, Queen 21. Q3 was theirs, 30-28, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 95-84 against them. Fears's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs NYK 125-130 — NOP notes
NOP lost 125-130. NOP shot 46% (44 of 96) to NYK's 48%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NYK's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Williamson led with 32 (11 of 16, 10 of 12 at the line); Bey added 26, Poole 26. Q1 was theirs, 41-37, but the other 3 periods went 93-84 against them. They led by as many as 10.
12/31 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Vučević at 16 and Buzelis at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (4 straight), Murray (4 straight), Jordan (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-4 a night and New Orleans minus-6 and the line, where New Orleans takes 31 free throws a game to Chicago's 24. Call it Chicago 122, New Orleans 119, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/02 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 129, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 31 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (5 straight), Murray (5 straight), Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 24 and Sharpe at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Holiday (22 straight), Grant (7 straight), Henderson (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-9 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the line, where New Orleans takes 31 free throws a game to Portland's 20. Call it New Orleans 119, Portland 117, Portland keeping it close.
1/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Wiggins at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Herro (10 straight), Larsson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 28 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (6 straight), Murray (6 straight), Jordan (32 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-6 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the arc, Miami at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 31. Call it Miami 125, New Orleans 116.
1/06 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 127, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Bey (2 straight), Jones (7 straight), Murray (7 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 23 a game. Without Reaves (4 straight), Hachimura (3 straight), Vincent (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 117 a night to New Orleans's 127. Call it the Lakers 119, New Orleans 117, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/21 vs MIA 132-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 132-125. NYK shot 55% (47 of 85) to MIA's 47%, 20 of 38 from three, and got to the line 21 times to MIA's 35. Brunson led with 47 (15 of 26, 6 of 13 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Bridges added 24, Anunoby 18. The hinge was Q2, 36-25: NYK came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 4. Kolek was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/23 @ MIN 104-115 — NYK notes
NYK lost 104-115. NYK shot 41% (41 of 99) to MIN's 45%, 11 of 30 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIN's 23. NYK turned it over 19 times to MIN's 11, and MIN turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 55-42 for them. Towns led with 40 (14 of 24, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Kolek added 20, Bridges 15. Q3 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 88-77 against them. Robinson's -15 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs CLE 126-124 — NYK notes
NYK won 126-124. NYK shot 47% (44 of 94) to CLE's 52%, 21 of 44 from three. Brunson led with 34 (10 of 25, 6 of 12 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Clarkson added 25, Kolek 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-20: NYK came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 2. Kolek was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/27 @ ATL 128-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-125. NYK shot 45% (43 of 95) to ATL's 48%, 15 of 43 from three. The glass went 55-37 for them. Towns led with 36 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 17 of 18 at the line); Brunson added 34, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Robinson was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/29 @ NOP 130-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 130-125. NYK shot 48% (46 of 95) to NOP's 46%, 20 of 44 from three, and got to the line 19 times to NOP's 27. Brunson led with 28 (10 of 23, 5 of 10 from three); Anunoby added 23, Diawara 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-22: NYK came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5. NYK trailed 72-75 at the half and won the second half 58-50. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and Towns at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hart (2 straight), Shamet (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 113 a night to New York's 123. Call it San Antonio 120, New York 116, New York keeping it close.
1/02 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Towns at 24 a game. Without Hart (3 straight), Shamet (17 straight), Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Young (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-9. Call it New York 124, Atlanta 119.
1/03 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Hart (4 straight), Shamet (18 straight), Robinson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 27 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (20 straight), Watford (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34. Call it New York 120, Philadelphia 117, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/05 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 28 and Duren at 14 a game. Without Harris (2 straight), LeVert (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hart (5 straight), Shamet (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 12 and the defense, Detroit allowing 115 a night to New York's 125. Call it Detroit 119, New York 117, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKAH A. Hukporti
GY G. Yabusele
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
KM K. McCullar Jr.
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diawara
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
TJ T. Jemison III
TK T. Kolek
NOPDQ D. Queen
JF J. Fears
JH J. Hawkins
JP J. Poole
KL K. Looney
MP M. Peavy
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
NYK/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Brunson's double-double helps the Knicks outlast Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, 130-125
NEW ORLEANS -- — Jalen Brunson capped a 28-point, 10-assist performance with a driving floater and a layup in the final 1:06, and the New York Knicks surged in front late to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 130-125 on Monday night.
OG Anunoby had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Mohamed Diawara scored a career-high 18 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who've won three straight.
Zion Williamson scored a season-high 32 points for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth straight. Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole each scored 26 for New Orleans and Trey Murphy III added 21 points.
Neither team led by more than 10 in a game characterized by a lot of scoring in the first half before defensive play intensified in the second.
The Pelicans led 75-72 at halftime, when both teams were shooting 50% or better. With 3:36 left in the game, the score was tied at 117 after Poole and Brunson had exchanged 3s.
Brunson rebounded his own missed 3 and hit a running floater just inside the baseline to give New York a 124-121 lead with 1:06 to go.
After Williamson's free throws, Brunson responded with a driving layup and Deuce McBride, who had 14 points, hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds to ensure the Knicks held on.
Diawara, who'd never previously scored more than five points in a game, had 13 by the end of the first quarter of what was just the Frenchman's third career start.
Bey scored 23 points in the first quarter.
Pelicans guard and native New Yorker Jose Alvarado was unavailable to play because of a two-game suspension stemming from his fight on Saturday night with Phoenix's Mark Williams .
Up next Knicks: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Pelicans: Visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.