Brunson scores 32 points as the Knicks beat the Pelicans for their seventh straight victory

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the New York Knicks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 121-116 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each added 21 points for the Knicks (48-25), who pulled within percentage points of the Boston Celtics (47-24) for second place in the Eastern Conference. Towns also grabbed 14 rebounds.

But it was Brunson who made the difference for the Knicks in a game that was close throughout the second half. He scored 10 straight points for New York midway through the fourth quarter, including back-to-back baskets after the Pelicans had cut it to 109-107 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

Zion Williamson scored 22 points and Jeremiah Fears had 21 for the Pelicans, who have lost two in a row after a three-game winning streak.

The Knicks made 15 of 21 shots (71.4%) in the first quarter, including 7 for 11 (63.6%) from 3-point range, and closed with a 15-0 run to take a 42-28 lead. New Orleans then opened the second with an 18-2 surge to go ahead 48-46 as the Knicks took more than five minutes to make their first basket. New York recovered to go back ahead 66-60 at halftime.

The Knicks have feasted on a soft part of their schedule, beating Indiana twice, Utah, Brooklyn and Washington during the winning streak, which came entirely against teams with losing records. They will get tested on a four-game road trip that begins Thursday at Charlotte and features stops at NBA champion Oklahoma City and Houston.

Pelicans: Visit Detroit on Thursday.

Knicks: Visit Charlotte on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New York Knicks OG Anunoby (8) defends the ball from New Orleans Pelicans Dejounte Murray (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks' Jose Alvarado (5) shoots the ball against New Orleans Pelicans' Derik Queen (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after scoring a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his 44th goal of the season and Jakub Dobes made 41 saves as the Montreal Canadiens held off the Carolina Hurricanes for a 5-2 win on Tuesday night.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist each, and Oliver Kapanen also scored as Montreal erased a two-goal deficit for its second consecutive win.

Jake Evans buried an empty-net goal with 1 minute left in regulation and Caufield added an assist for a two-point night.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, which lost for the first time in four games.

Frederik Andersen stopped 14 shots.

The Canadiens sit third in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. The New York Islanders, who lost on Tuesday and are the top team outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, trailed by three points.

Ehlers opened the scoring on the power play 2:36 into the first period when Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson deflected his pass intended for Seth Jarvis into the Canadiens’ net. Staal doubled the lead at 7:09, beating Dobes glove side.

Kapanen tipped in Struble’s point shot at 12:11 to give the Canadiens some life before Montreal struck twice in the second period.

Caufield trails Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon by two goals for the league lead. No Canadien has led the NHL in goals since Guy Lafleur in 1977-78.

The Canadiens secured their 24th comeback win of the season, tying for the most in a single season in franchise history (1992-93, 1975-76).

Hurricanes: Host New Jersey on Saturday.

Canadiens: End a three-game homestand against Columbus on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal on the Carolina Hurricanes with teammates Noah Dobson (53) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall (71) on a breakaway during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops a shot by Carolina Hurricanes' Jalen Chatfield (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (8) gets tangled up with Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) is scored on by Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)