New Orleans Pelicans vs New York Knicks Prediction: Ascending Knicks take on powerful Pels

The NBA Regular Season has entered its deciding parts and this has been another brilliant season where we have seen big-time performers and some emerging players put on a show on both ends. We will soon hit the Postseason window and it will be high time soon. In this Regular Season game, New Orleans Pelicans take on the New York Knicks.

The Pels come into the game after defeating the Grizzlies 138:131 in Overtime on the heels of a 35 points performance by Herbert Jones. The Pels have three wins in the last five games and in an extended window, they have eight wins and two losses. The Pels have 41 wins and 39 losses. This strong window has enabled the Pels to finish in the top eight. The current renaissance has been brought up by the resurgence of Brandon Ingram who returned from injury and has been putting up 25+ points as a routine. CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas form great support around him and the team has done well without Zion lately.

The Knicks enter the game after defeating the Pacers 138:129 as Immanuel Quickley dropped 39 points. The Knicks have won five in a row which is the third instance when the team has won five or more in a row. They have eight wins in eleven games and they have built 47 wins and 33 losses. The Knicks are in the fifth position which they have pretty much solidified. The Knicks are likely going to face the Cavaliers in the first round which will be a tough match-up. The Knicks are a better offensive team whereas the Cavs have a better defensive squad. The Knicks will need to hit the long ball consistently in that series because of Cleveland’s excellent inside defense. How will they survive without Julius Randle?

• Knicks: OUT: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, DaQuan Jeffries, Jalen Brunson. QUESTIONABLE: RJ Barrett;
• Pelicans: OUT: Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado.

The Pels have played fantastically on both ends of the floor lately and the Knicks will have to be ready for them. The Knicks will be without Randle and Brunson here, which will shift the burden to Immanuel Quickley, Quinten Grimes, and Josh Hart. I see the Knicks coming with a strong game but Pels closing the deal. I predict a scoreline of 127:119 in favor of the Pels.