Kon Knueppel Sets NBA Rookie 3-Point Record In Charlotte Win

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Kon Knueppel rewrote NBA rookie 3-point history, the San Antonio Spurs stretched their surge, and the Phoenix Suns edged the Los Angeles Lakers at the buzzer, highlighting a packed night in the league that also saw Brandon Miller, Julian Champagnie and Grayson Allen post major scoring performances across key matchups.

Knueppel hit eight 3-pointers and posted 28 points as the Charlotte Hornets rolled past the Indiana Pacers 133-109, while Miller led all scorers in that game with 33. The win lifted Charlotte to a 12-3 run over the previous 15 fixtures and extended the Hornets’ current road streak to nine victories.

The Hornets’ rookie guard entered the contest needing six 3-pointers to surpass Keegan Murray’s first-year mark of 206, which Murray set across 80 games during the 2022-23 campaign. Knueppel, now on 209 made 3s in just 59 outings, remains the NBA’s leading long-range shooter this season by total makes.

The record-breaking basket arrived with 9:41 left in the fourth quarter. Knueppel used a ball fake to send Quintin Jackson into the air, then drove left and released from beyond the arc. The attempt rattled around the rim before finally dropping, giving the No. 4 overall pick from Duke another milestone in a fast-rising campaign.

Indiana struggled again defensively. The Pacers allowed at least 130 points for a third straight contest, matching only two previous such streaks in franchise history. Andrew Nembhard paced Indiana with 20 points, while Micah Potter added 19 off the bench in the heavy home defeat against Charlotte’s in-form group.

San Antonio’s strong form continued with a 126-110 win over the Brooklyn Nets, their 11th straight victory, pushing the Spurs to 43-16. Julian Champagnie spearheaded the attack with 26 points, supported by Stephon Castle’s 18, while De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each supplied 14 in another balanced offensive display.

Victor Wembanyama had another modest scoring night, finishing with 12 points, yet San Antonio’s depth covered the output. Keldon Johnson chipped in 13, and Dylan Harper added 12. The current run is San Antonio’s longest winning sequence since a 13-game stretch in the 2015-16 season, underlining their steady climb up the standings.

Brooklyn’s struggles deepened with a sixth consecutive defeat. Michael Porter Jr. collected 24 points along with 14 rebounds, while reserve DayRon Sharpe contributed 14 points and 11 boards. The Spurs seized control immediately, as Wembanyama controlled the opening tip and fed a cutting Castle for a powerful two-handed dunk after just 13 seconds of play.

NBA thriller as Suns edge Lakers late

The Phoenix Suns, missing several regulars, claimed a 113-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to Royce O'Neale’s late 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left. Grayson Allen delivered 28 points, and Phoenix nearly let a 12-point advantage slip before securing a narrow win in the final possession sequence.

On the deciding play, Allen attacked the lane before kicking to Collin Gillespie in the corner. Gillespie quickly moved the ball to an unmarked O'Neale, who buried the decisive shot. The Lakers still had a final look, but Austin Reaves missed an open corner 3 at the buzzer, ending the comeback attempt.

Luka Doncic kept Los Angeles competitive with 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists during a heavy workload. The Lakers erased a 12-point gap with 6:28 remaining and levelled at 108 on a Reaves 3 with one minute left. O'Neale then scored a put-back layup for 110-108, before LeBron James tied it with a tip-in at 22.7 seconds.

Across the night’s schedule, Knueppel’s rookie record and Charlotte’s surge, San Antonio’s 11-game streak, and Phoenix’s late-game execution stood out, while Stephen Curry’s overall single-season 3-point record of 402 remained intact, and the Pacers, Nets and Lakers all faced renewed questions about defensive consistency and late-game decision-making.