Knicks vs Pelicans prediction NBA · Monday, December 29
At a glance
The New Orleans Pelicans (8-25) host the New York Knicks (23-9) on Monday, December 29 at 8:00 PM ET at Smoothie King Center in NBA action. Final score: Knicks 130 – Pelicans 125. Before tip-off, the Basketlog model gave the Knicks a 78% chance to win: prediction correct. This season, the Pelicans are 6-14 at home and the Knicks are 7-7 on the road. Over the last 10 games: 5-5 for the Pelicans and 8-2 for the Knicks (current streaks: Pelicans L3, Knicks W2).
The analysis Model
On paper, the Knicks dominate this matchup. The model projects Pelicans 112 – 122 Knicks, a margin of about 9.7 points in favor of the Knicks and a total around 234 points. Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game.
- The overall strength gap (-6.7 vs +5.3 pts/game) is the main factor.
- The Pelicans need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Knicks' offense (119.3 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
- The Knicks' defense allows clearly fewer points (113.1 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
NYNO
Top performers
Knicks
Jalen BrunsonG · #1128pts / gameJalen BrunsonG · #1110assists
Karl-Anthony TownsC · #3212reboundsPelicans
Zion WilliamsonF · #132pts / game
Saddiq BeyG · #416assists
Derik QueenC · #229reboundsRecent form
NYNO
NY
Team comparison
| NY | NO | |
|---|---|---|
| 23-9 | Record | 8-25 |
| 119.3 | Points scored / game | 113.8 |
| 113.1 | Points allowed / game | 121.7 |
| +5.3 | Adjusted margin / game | -6.7 |
| W2 | Current streak | L3 |
| 8-2 | Last 10 games | 5-5 |
| 7-7 road | Home / road record | 6-14 home |
| 51-31 (+4.1) | Last season | 21-61 (-9.4) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Knicks
Injury report Pelicans
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.