The Pelicans come into this matchup in a difficult place, having dropped three straight and sitting at the bottom of the West at 8–25. Zion Williamson has been their most efficient scorer, but missing roughly half the season has left New Orleans without the stability or talent needed to compete, especially after several key offensive players departed.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are moving in the opposite direction, building momentum after winning the NBA Cup and edging Atlanta 128–125 behind big nights from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. With a top-tier offense and a strong core, New York enters this meeting looking far more complete and confident.
Game Details
Jalen Brunson is in a strong scoring rhythm and remains one of the Knicks’ primary offensive engines. In their most recent game, he poured in 34 points on the road against Atlanta, showing the same aggressive shot creation that has defined his role under Mike Brown.
With New York owning one of the league’s top offensive ratings and relying heavily on its core four, Brunson consistently gets the volume needed to reach the 30‑point mark. Given the Pelicans’ bottom‑tier defense and overall struggles, this matchup sets up well for another high‑usage scoring night from him.
JALEN BRUNSON OVER HIS LAST 10 GAMES:
— SleeperKnicks (@SleeperKnicks) December 28, 2025
34 PTS
34 PTS
47 PTS
22 PTS
25 PTS
40 PTS
35 PTS
30 PTS
33 PTS
26 PTS
Averaging 32.6 PTS and the Knicks went 9-1.
M-V-P. pic.twitter.com/RlBr8D4Au3
The Pelicans enter this matchup in a downward spiral, sitting at 8–25 and coming off three straight losses. Zion Williamson has been their most efficient scorer, but missing roughly half the season has left New Orleans without stability, and a weakened roster now ranks among the league’s worst on both ends. The Knicks, meanwhile, are trending sharply upward.
Fresh off an NBA Cup title and a 128–125 win in Atlanta, they’re powered by Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, forming one of the league’s strongest cores. With a top‑four offense and far more cohesion, New York holds a clear advantage in this matchup.
| Market | New Orleans Pelicans | New York Knicks |
|---|---|---|
| Money Line | +275 | -350 |
| Spread | +8.5 (-110) | -8.5 (-110) |
| Total | O 246.5 (-110) | O 246.5 (-110) |
Here are the over/under and best player bets for the New Orleans Pelicans, and the New York Knicks, according to FanDuel.
New Orleans Pelicans Over/Under Odds
| Over/Under Bets | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans Total Points 119.5 | -105 | -115 |
| Derik Queen Assists 4.5 | +122 | -162 |
New Orleans Pelicans Best Player Bets
New York Knicks Over/Under Odds
New York Knicks Best Player Bets
The odds given above are sourced from FanDuel. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game across all sports.
New York is the clear favorite, listed at –355 on FanDuel and –350 on BetMGM, reflecting their strong form and top‑tier offensive play.
New Orleans enters as the underdog at +270 on FanDuel and +275 on BetMGM, offering higher payout potential but signaling low expectations based on recent struggles.
New York’s core of Towns, Brunson, Anunoby, and Bridges has been producing at a high level, and their overall offensive efficiency far surpasses a Pelicans team sitting at the bottom of the West.
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