Knueppel Becomes Youngest NBA Player With 250 Threes As Hornets Beat Knicks

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Kon Knueppel highlighted the Charlotte Hornets’ mindset after a 114-103 win over the New York Knicks, which ended New York’s seven-game streak and delayed their play-off clinch. Knueppel scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and added eight assists, while also becoming the youngest player in NBA history to hit 250 three-pointers in a single season.

The Knicks had a play-off spot on the line but could not cope with Charlotte’s tempo from the start. New York’s defence had been the league’s best since January, yet the Hornets controlled the rhythm and physical battle, leaving coach Mike Brown frustrated with the team’s response in key areas.

Knueppel explained that personal numbers reflected the Hornets’ collective focus against a strong Knicks group. "I feel good. A little frustrating to have a nagging injury, you know, not really holding me out to play, but you just don't feel your best," he said. "Having the body fresh and playing our brand of hoops led to a good individual game for me."

Knueppel stressed that the Hornets’ identity showed from the opening minutes. "I just thought we came out with a good mentality to play our brand of basketball and brought the physicality to the game that we needed. It's a commitment to what we do, establishing an identity as a team, and our coaching staff has done a really good job of doing that. There's definitely a lot of buy-in from all of our guys right now. When you focus on doing your best, that puts us in the best position for future seeding or whatever place in the standings we get."

Rebounding proved decisive, with Charlotte claiming a 43-24 edge on the boards, which limited New York’s second chances. Brown did not hide his displeasure. "They just kicked our behinds on the glass," Brown said. "We need more production on the glass than what we got from a handful of guys. If you're going to go on the road and let a team out-rebound you 43-24, it's not even close because we didn't put bodies on bodies. We didn't hit first."

Key box-score numbers from the game underlined how the Hornets’ energy shifted the contest away from the Knicks’ usual defensive control.

Jalen Brunson matched Knueppel’s 26 points and handed out 13 assists, trying to carry New York’s offence. OG Anunoby added 17 points, yet the Knicks never fully erased the deficit. Their defence, usually tight since January, could not adjust to Charlotte’s spacing and outside shooting across four quarters.

The 20-year-old Knueppel fell just short of a first NBA triple-double, yet the performance strengthened Charlotte’s push in the standings. The Hornets’ win halted New York’s play-off celebrations for at least one more game and showed how their current identity, built on pace, shooting and collective buy-in, can trouble leading Eastern Conference teams.