Game ID: 22501048
New Orleans Pelicans @ New York Knicks
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 42 24 27 28 121NOP 28 32 32 24 116
NOP @ NYK ScoutingNOP @ 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.
NYK availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 31 min (100% of 31)
OUT McBride missed 22 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 13 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Shamet 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 23 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Kolek missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 21 min (193% of 11)
BACK Hart back 3/15 after 2, 31 min since (100% of 31)
NEW Shamet 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/20 · 2 days' restOUT McBride missed 24 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hart back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (92% of 31)
BACK Kolek back 3/17 after 2, 21 min since (193% of 11)
NEW Shamet 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 25 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hart back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (92% of 31)
BACK Kolek back 3/17 after 2, 11 min since (96% of 11)
NEW Shamet 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 26 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hart back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK Kolek back 3/17 after 2, 9 min since (80% of 11)
NYK availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 27 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Hart back 3/15 after 2, 30 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Kolek back 3/17 after 2, 9 min since (80% of 11)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT McBride missed 28 since 1/28, returns tonight: 11 min (46% of 24)
OUT Shamet missed 3 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Kolek back 3/17 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 11)
NYK availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 4 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK McBride back 3/29 after 28, 11 min since (46% of 24)
NYK availability going into 4/01 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 5 since 3/22, returns tonight: 31 min (144% of 21)
BACK McBride back 3/29 after 28, 12 min since (50% of 24)
NOP availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Poole missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 24)
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 12 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 28 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 3 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 13 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 29 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 4 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 14 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 30 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 5 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 15 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 31 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Matković 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT McGowens missed 6 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 16 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 32 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Missi 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Matković 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 7 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 3/13, returns tonight: 17 min (101% of 17)
OUT Peavy missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 4 min (23% of 15)
OUT Looney missed 17 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 22 min (163% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 33 since 1/11, out tonight
NEW Matković 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/27 · back-to-backOUT Poole missed 3 since 3/21, returns tonight: 23 min (98% of 24)
OUT McGowens missed 8 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 18 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 34 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/26 after 6, 17 min since (101% of 17)
BACK Peavy back 3/26 after 4, 4 min since (23% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 3/26 after 4, 22 min since (163% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murphy III missed 2 since 3/26, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 9 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 19 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (25% of 15)
OUT Alexander missed 35 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/27 after 3, 23 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Jordan back 3/26 after 6, 18 min since (108% of 17)
BACK Peavy back 3/26 after 4, 3 min since (19% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 3/26 after 4, 22 min since (160% of 14)
NOP availability going into 4/02 · 3 days' restOUT Murphy III missed 3 since 3/26, returns tonight: 36 min (103% of 36)
OUT McGowens missed 10 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 36 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/27 after 3, 15 min since (62% of 24)
BACK Jordan back 3/26 after 6, 18 min since (108% of 17)
BACK Peavy back 3/26 after 4, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Looney back 3/29 after 19, 4 min since (25% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 3/26 after 4, 16 min since (120% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without McBride (26 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without McGowens (6 straight), Jordan (5 straight), Peavy (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and New Orleans minus-2. Call it New York 116, New Orleans 110.
3/15 vs GSW 110-107 — NYK notes
NYK won 110-107. NYK shot 46% (39 of 84) to GSW's 49%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 23 times to GSW's 15 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Brunson led with 30 (9 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Towns added 17, Anunoby 14. The hinge was Q3, 38-26: NYK came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 3. NYK trailed 45-54 at the half and won the second half 65-53. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/17 vs IND 136-110 — NYK notes
NYK won 136-110. NYK shot 54% (54 of 100) to IND's 52%, 18 of 41 from three, and went to the line 13 times to IND's 7 — 10 points from the stripe to their 5. NYK turned it over 9 times to IND's 17. The glass went 49-36 for them. Hart led with 33 (12 of 13, 5 of 5 from three); Anunoby added 26, Towns 22. The hinge was Q4, 31-19: a lead of 14 became 26. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
3/20 @ BKN 93-92 — NYK notes
NYK won 93-92. NYK shot 41% (31 of 76) to BKN's 40%, 8 of 29 from three, and went to the line 32 times to BKN's 10 — 23 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 52-40 for them. Towns led with 26 (7 of 16, 1 of 3 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Brunson added 17, Anunoby 16. The hinge was Q3, 31-15: NYK came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 10. NYK trailed 44-50 at the half and won the second half 49-42. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/22 vs WAS 145-113 — NYK notes
NYK won 145-113. NYK shot 59% (55 of 94) to WAS's 48%, 17 of 32 from three, and went to the line 19 times to WAS's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 48-28 for them. Towns led with 26 (9 of 13, 7 of 7 at the line); Brunson added 23, Hart 16. The hinge was Q2, 36-25: a lead of 5 became 16, and the lead reached 33. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
3/24 vs NOP 121-116 — NYK notes
NYK won 121-116. NYK shot 52% (44 of 85) to NOP's 51%, 13 of 33 from three, and went to the line 22 times to NOP's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. Brunson led with 32 (11 of 19, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Anunoby added 21, Towns 21. The hinge was Q1, 42-28: from level to 14 ahead. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/26 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ball at 23 and White at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Salaün (10 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without McBride (27 straight), Shamet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and Charlotte plus-7. Call it Charlotte 116, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
3/29 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 14 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 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Towns at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without McBride (28 straight), Shamet (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to OKC's 37. Call it OKC 117, New York 111.
3/31 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Shamet (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and New York plus-4 and the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Houston's 36. Call it Houston 115, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
4/01 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Prosper at 17 and Jackson at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 17 a night. Without Wells (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Shamet (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-17 and the defense, New York allowing 113 a night to Memphis's 129. Call it New York 117, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/16 vs DAL 129-111 — NOP notes
NOP won 129-111. NOP shot 51% (48 of 95) to DAL's 42%, 11 of 35 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DAL's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 9. Williamson led with 27 (11 of 13, 5 of 9 at the line); Bey added 23, Murphy III 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 19. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/18 vs LAC 124-109 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-109. NOP shot 53% (44 of 83) to LAC's 51%, 16 of 37 from three, and went to the line 21 times to LAC's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. Bey led with 25 (10 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Murphy III added 23, Murray 17. The hinge was Q2, 34-20: NOP came in trailing by 14 and left it level, and the lead reached 20. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/19 vs LAC 105-99 — NOP notes
NOP won 105-99. NOP shot 47% (37 of 78) to LAC's 46%, 13 of 34 from three, and got to the line 22 times to LAC's 32. Murphy III led with 27 (9 of 17, 5 of 11 from three); Bey added 20, Williamson 15. The hinge was Q4, 18-15: a lead of 3 became 6. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/21 vs CLE 106-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 106-111. NOP shot 43% (39 of 90) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 40 from three. The glass went 40-55 against them. Williamson led with 25 (10 of 14, 5 of 9 at the line); Bey added 19, Jones 12. Q2 was theirs, 28-19, turning a 6-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 92-78 against them. They led by as many as 15. Matković's -11 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/24 @ NYK 116-121 — NOP notes
NOP lost 116-121. NOP shot 51% (45 of 88) to NYK's 52%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 13 times to NYK's 22. Williamson led with 22 (8 of 10, 6 of 8 at the line); Fears added 21, Bey 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-24, the deficit cut from 14 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 97-84 against them. Missi's -19 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/26 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Duren at 26 and Jenkins at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Cunningham (4 straight), Stewart (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bey at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Poole (2 straight), McGowens (7 straight), Jordan (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the arc, New Orleans at 37 percent from three to Detroit's 33. Call it Detroit 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/27 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 19 and Barnes at 16 a game. Without Quickley (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bey at 20 and Williamson at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Poole (3 straight), McGowens (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Toronto 118, New Orleans 113.
3/29 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Bey at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), McGowens (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it Houston 116, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
4/02 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 31 free throws a game; Avdija at 21 and Camara at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Sharpe (25 straight), Krejčí (9 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Bey at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight), McGowens (10 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-14 a night and New Orleans minus-10 and the defense, Portland allowing 98 a night to New Orleans's 123. Call it Portland 120, New Orleans 108, Portland by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPDM D. Murray
DQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JF J. Fears
KM K. Matković
MA Matkovic
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
NYKJA J. Alvarado
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diawara
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
NOP/NYK 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 scores 32 points as the Knicks beat the Pelicans for their seventh straight victory
NEW YORK -- — Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the New York Knicks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 121-116 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each added 21 points for the Knicks (48-25), who pulled within percentage points of the Boston Celtics (47-24) for second place in the Eastern Conference. Towns also grabbed 14 rebounds.
But it was Brunson who made the difference for the Knicks in a game that was close throughout the second half. He scored 10 straight points for New York midway through the fourth quarter, including back-to-back baskets after the Pelicans had cut it to 109-107 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.
Zion Williamson scored 22 points and Jeremiah Fears had 21 for the Pelicans, who have lost two in a row after a three-game winning streak.
The Knicks made 15 of 21 shots (71.4%) in the first quarter, including 7 for 11 (63.6%) from 3-point range, and closed with a 15-0 run to take a 42-28 lead. New Orleans then opened the second with an 18-2 surge to go ahead 48-46 as the Knicks took more than five minutes to make their first basket. New York recovered to go back ahead 66-60 at halftime.
The Knicks have feasted on a soft part of their schedule, beating Indiana twice, Utah, Brooklyn and Washington during the winning streak, which came entirely against teams with losing records. They will get tested on a four-game road trip that begins Thursday at Charlotte and features stops at NBA champion Oklahoma City and Houston.