DALLAS – Kon Knueppel made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left for a career-high 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 on Thursday night, spoiling Duke roommate Cooper Flagg’s 49-point game.
Flagg, who turned 19 in December, broke the NBA record for points in a game by a teenager. Cliff Robinson, at the age of 19, set the previous record of 45 years for New Jersey in a game against Detroit on March 9, 1980.
Flagg set career highs with 20 field goals on 29 shots, and also had 10 rebounds.
Knueppel collected an errant pass from Flagg at center half with seven seconds left and the score was tied. He drove to the basket and was fouled by Flagg when the ball got stuck between the rim and the backboard. Flagg’s shot at the buzzer to send it to overtime hit the back of the rim.
Knueppel made eight 3-pointers to set a rookie record for the Hornets, who have won five straight games, which is their longest winning streak since a five-game streak in February 2023.
Brandon Miller scored 23 points, his ninth straight game with at least 20 points, for Charlotte. LaMelo added 22 and hit six 3-pointers.
Klay Thompson scored 16 points off the bench for Dallas, shooting 4 of 11 on 3s. The Mavericks have lost three straight – all at home – following a season-best four-game winning streak.
The Hornets swept a road back to back while the Mavericks were swept into a house back to back.
The game marked the first NBA meeting between Flagg and Knueppel, Duke’s 2024-2025 freshmen.
Mark Aguirre, Dallas’ only previous first overall draftee following the franchise’s inaugural season in 1980-81, became the team’s fifth player to have his jersey retired during the halftime ceremony.
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