Julius Randle outdueled Zion Williamson in the showdown between All-Star forwards.
Randle hit three triples in the opening quarter that set the tone for the New York Knicks’ 116-106 win over Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night at the Smoothie Center.
The Knicks notched their season-high fourth straight victory leaning on Randle’s seventh 30-point performance and Alec Burks’ fourth-quarter explosion offense. But it was their collective effort on defense that propelled them to improve to 29-27 and move up to seventh in the bunched-up Eastern Conference.
Williamson still got away with 28 points and seven assists but scored only four in the pivotal fourth quarter, where the Knicks took complete control of the game.