New York Knicks vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 12/29/25

The New York Knicks enter this matchup as one of the Eastern Conference’s most efficient teams, powered by an offense averaging just over 120 points per game while shooting efficiently from the field. Jalen Brunson continues to play at an All-NBA level, anchoring the offense with elite shot creation and late game control, while Karl-Anthony Towns adds interior scoring and rebounding that stretches defenses. Despite their strong record, the Knicks are not without concerns. Injuries have thinned their rotation, with Mitchell Robinson sidelined and key role players like Josh Hart and Landry Shamet unavailable, forcing New York to rely more heavily on its starters. That lack of depth can show up on the road, especially against physical teams that pressure the ball and attack the paint.

The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled mightily in the standings, but the underlying effort level has been more competitive than their record suggests. Zion Williamson remains the focal point, averaging over 21 points per game while drawing constant defensive attention, and Trey Murphy provides perimeter shooting that can swing momentum quickly. While New Orleans is missing key defenders such as Herbert Jones and Jose Alvarado, the Pelicans tend to play with more confidence at home, particularly when catching points. They’ve shown an ability to hang around against superior opponents by controlling tempo and leaning on physical half court offense. With New York dealing with rotation issues and not playing as well on the road this year, watch out for this young Pelicans team trending in the right direction.

Knicks vs Pelicans Prediction: Pelicans +8.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to +7.5