Tue Dec 24 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Knicks’ Brunson Explodes for 39 Points, Leads Team to Victory Over Struggling Pelicans
**NEW ORLEANS, LA** – Jalen Brunson erupted for a season-high 39 points, 29 of which came in a dominant second half, propelling the New York Knicks to a 104-93 victory over the slumping New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night. The Pelicans, losers of 15 of their last 16 games, were unable to contain Brunson’s second-half surge.
The game saw a stark contrast in Brunson’s performance. He faced tight defense from Pelicans All-NBA defender Herb Jones in the first half, resulting in a relatively inefficient shooting performance for the Knicks. New Orleans held a 49-45 lead at halftime.
However, Brunson ignited in the third quarter, scoring 16 points, including a crucial 13-point streak, as part of a decisive 22-6 run. This erased a 13-point Pelicans lead and gave the Knicks a 74-71 advantage heading into the final period. He continued his hot streak in the fourth, scoring nine of the Knicks’ first 13 points to extend the lead to a comfortable margin.
While Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 26 points, and Dejounte Murray contributed 14, their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Brunson’s brilliance. The Knicks also received strong performances from Mikal Bridges (18 points) and OG Anunoby (16 points). Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to just 5 points for the Knicks due to foul trouble.
The Pelicans’ last double-digit lead came on December 5th against Phoenix. Despite a brief lead in the second quarter, their late-game collapse allowed the Knicks to seize control with a dominant 43-14 run spanning the third and fourth quarters.
Brunson finished an impressive 13-of-19 from the field, 7-of-10 from three-point range, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. The Knicks will next face Toronto on Monday, while the Pelicans host Denver on Sunday.
First Piper 