Knicks Can’t Stop Zion Williamson and Unbeaten Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson was unstoppable on Saturday night. The 6-foot-6 power forward dished out 24 points, while teammate Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 26 points in…
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring during the first quarter of an NBA game against the New York Knicks at Smoothie King Center on October 28, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson was unstoppable on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-6 power forward dished out 24 points, while teammate Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 26 points in a 96-87 win over the New York Knicks.
For the Knicks, it was brutal loss on a back-to-back following Friday's 126-120 victory on the road in Atlanta.
New York found itself in a huge hole early. Three-point jumpers by C.J. McCollum and Herbert Jones put the Pelicans 8-2 less than four minutes into the contest. Before long, the Knicks found themselves down 12-points, 20-8, when Ingram connected on his third consecutive bucket, a 16-foot jumper with less than four minutes to go in the first quarter.
“We were a step behind, a step slow," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said afterwards.
Jordan Hawkins 24-foot three ball seemed to put the competitive nature of this one on the back burner as New Orleans built a 32-13 lead.
The Knicks tried to slice into the deficit thanks in major part to R.J. Barret leading the way with 18 points for New York. It just wasn't enough.
Jalen Brunson had a tough night going 4-of-14 from the floor. Meanwhile Julius Randle struggled going 4-of-15 from the floor, including 0-of-5 from downtown.
Overall, the Knicks shot only 36 percent from the floor compared to the 46 percent shot by New Orleans.
While it is a disappointing way to wrap up a road trip, the Knicks get a couple of days off before returning to the floor on Halloween in Cleveland for the first of a back-to-back with the Cavs.
