McBride, OG, Brunson & Kolek to the Rescue. NY 130 New Orleans 125

December 30, 2025 LouV 2025-26 0
OG carried the Knicks most of the night on offense and defense -- with 23 pts, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Miles McBride was back for the first time in 3 weeks after the ankle sprain, and hit Clutch 3’s, pulled down important rebounds, made 4 clutch free throws, and played game-changing defense in the final minutes to lead the Knicks to a 130-125 victory over Pelicans in New Orleans on a Monday night.

Jalen Brunson also made Clutch buckets at the end, as did OG Anunoby, who carried the Knicks all night on offense and defense (23 pts, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block).

The Knicks were behind the Pelicans seemingly all night, and were down by 7 pts entering the 4th when Tyler Kolek came in and turned things around with pinpoint passing — to Jordan Clarkson for buckets inside, McBride for a 3, KAT for a 3, and hitting a 3 himself for a NY 3-pt lead within minutes.

The game see-sawed down the stretch with New Orleans getting big buckets from Zion Williamson, who starred with 32 pts on 11-16 shooting (0-0 from 3, 10-12 in free throws). Williamson attacked KAT early to get Towns in foul trouble and become mostly a non-factor in the game (12 pts on 4-9 shooting, 2-4 from 3).

The Knicks were without Mitchell Robinson — out for scheduled rest — and Josh Hart, and that hurt them on the boards as they were outrebounded most of the night — 50-43 overall. Although KAT, OG, and McBride came up with big rebounds in the 4th and the Knick defense in the 2nd half amped up for the win.

“Just taking the challenge; being more physical, doing what the coaches have us do every day, said OG Anunoby afterwards about the Knicks defense in the second half. “Just follow through on the floor; execute.”

NY improves to 23-9, in 2nd place in the East, 1 game behind Detroit. New Orleans falls to 8-26, last in the West.

1. Bey & Diawara Excel Early

Saddiq Bey is back this season after missing a year and a half with a torn left ACL, and he has been playing great, averaging 18.2 ppg coming in. There in fact have been some rumours that the Knicks could look to trading for him.

He lit the Smoothie King Center up in the 1st quarter, hitting open 3 after open 3 — he was 4-4 from 3 at one point, causing us to tweet, “What are the odds of the Knicks winning if they leave Saddiq Bey open at the 3 all night?”

And a broken play allowed him to shoot a 5th open 3 — that he missed.

Bey had 21 points on 8-11 shooting in the 1st quarter — but after that the Knicks and Mikal Bridges shut him down. Bey only had 5 pts on 1-10 shooting (0-6 from 3) the next 3 quarters of the game, to finish with 26 pts on 9-21 shooting (4-10 from 3).

Meanwhile Mohammed Diawara was having his best game yet at the starting forward slot for the Knicks. Diawara went 3-3 from 3 in the 1st quarter with 2 drives for 13 pts (on 5-6 shooting) and 2 steals. The 6’9 2nd-round pick of the 2025 draft (whom the Knicks acquired from the Clippers for their 2nd-rd pick, Kobe Sanders) — looked as dynamic and athletic as ever.

Diawara would continue to play well in the next few quarters — finishing with 18 pts on 7-9 shooting (4-4 from 3).

2. OG Keeps Knicks in the Game in the 2nd

New Orleans led 41-37 entering the 2nd quarter, and kept trying to increase the lead as Zion Williamson continued to be a load, and Jordan Poole started getting buckets.

The Pelicans kept beating the Knicks on the boards — NY was not getting any second chances as they normally do with Mitchell Robinson in, not to mention Josh Hart also out.

OG Anunoby was keeping the Knicks in the game with his offense and his defense. OG wasn’t hitting his 3 (he would go 1-8 from 3 on the night), but was attacking the rim — blowing past Zion, and coming up with rebounds and steals. OG scored 16 pts in the 2nd quarter.

“OG makes winning plays on both ends,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Willing to do all the little things and he needs no plays called for him to do this. Winner.”

An OG offensive rebound and put back made it 56-52 New Orleans with 7:44 left in the half. OG free throws off a drive pulled NY within 65-63 with 2:30 left in the half; a defensive rebound and ahead-of-the field drive tied the game 65-65 with 2 minutes left.

Trey Murphy III, Jordan Poole, and Zion were getting buckets for the Pelicans; consecutive OG drives in the final minute for NY made it a 75-72 New Orleans lead at the half.

3. New Orleans Goes Up by 10 in 3rd

Trey Murphy III started hitting 3’s in the 3rd, and with buckets by Pelican center Derik Queen, Poole, and Zion — New Orleans was able to build their lead to 10 pts midway thru the period.

But NY had answers to stay in it — a floater by Mikal Bridges and a 3 by OG Anunoby quickly cut the Pelican lead to 5 midway thru the period.

Guerschon Yabusele and Trey Jemison III hit 3’s late in the period — sparking Knick fans to ask if coach Mike Brown was really interested in winning this game, playing Trey Jemison and the entire bench when they were behind. Alan Hahn called Mike Brown “the mad scientist” in the post game.

4. Kolek Turns Things at Start of 4th

New Orleans entered the 4th with a 103-96 lead. And then Tyler Kolek took over, with a little help from Jordan Clarkson.

Kolek hit Clarkson for a 17-foot step back, then hit a 3 himself and NY was down 103-101.

Poole answered with a 3, but Kolek fed Clarkson for a drive and circus-shot layup.

The refs were ‘letting them play’ in the 2nd half — and it became a physical game.

OG Anunoby stole the ball from Zion — but Zion — infuriated at not getting a call on the play — raced down and ripped the ball away from Jordan Clarkson on the ensuing fast break and was called for a foul. But New Orleans challenged and won the challenge — the refs saying he hadn’t fouled Clarkson, even though it kind of looked like he had ripped his arm.

But Kolek kept orchestrating — hitting McBride for a 3, then feeding KAT for a 3 and NY was up 109-106 with 7:42 left.

5. McBride, Brunson, OG Take It at End

Jalen Brunson re-entered the game with 6:29 left, and NY went with Brunson and McBride down the stretch. The game went back and forth until the final minute:

  • Derik Queen and Yves Missi scored inside to put the Pelicans up, but Jalen Brunson hit a 3 to give NY back a 1-pt lead with 5 minutes left.
  • Trey Murphy III hit two 3’s and a drive, countered in turn by a McBride drive, a Brunson 3, and a McBride 3 and it was 120-119 NY.

Brunson & Zion Go Back and Forth with Clutch Scores

  • Zion scored inside, but OG Anunoby powered by Zion in the half court on the other end for a slam and 122-121 NY lead with 1:48 left.
  • Jalen Brunson missed a 3, but Miles McBride got a Huge offensive rebound, and fed Brunson for a drive and 124-121 Knick lead with 1:06 left.

Zion drove the lane with 50 seconds left, and OG slapped the ball away for a steal — but the refs ruled a foul. NY challenged — and the refs ruled that although OG got all ball — he interfered with Zion a second before the play so New Orleans won the challenge. Zion hit both free throws for a 124-123 game, NY up.

Jalen Brunson then split the defense for a CLUTCH drive; Zion came back the other way for a CLUTCH drive with 25.1 seconds left — still a 1-pt game.

McBride Nothing-But-Net Free Throws Clinch It

New Orleans was forced to foul — putting McBride to the line — and he was nothing-but-net on 2 free throws for a 3-pt Knick lead with 16 seconds left.

McBride played tremendous defense on Jordan Poole — forcing a wild miss of a 3 pointer, and then was fouled and again was nothing-but-net on 2 free throws for a 130-125 Knick lead, and ballgame.

Bey missed a 3 with 1 second left and NY walked away with the win.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810309

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