Kon Knueppel Becomes The Youngest Player In NBA History With 250 Three-Pointers For Hornets

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Playoff races tightened across the NBA on 27 March as the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic all claimed important wins, with standout nights from Kon Knueppel, Jalen Duren and Paolo Banchero shaping both scorelines and the evolving postseason picture in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Banchero lifted Orlando past the Sacramento Kings 111-107, restoring momentum after a damaging slide. In Charlotte, Knueppel delivered another milestone performance as the Hornets stopped the New York Knicks’ seven-game surge. Earlier, Duren powered Detroit to a convincing victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, exposing New Orleans’ issues from the free-throw line.

Paolo Banchero produced 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Magic halted a six-game losing streak. Orlando, now 39-34, had dropped below the Eastern Conference play-in line after that slump, which arrived straight after a seven-game winning run had lifted the team into fifth place in the standings.

This was Banchero’s third consecutive outing with at least 30 points. It also marked the 25th game in Banchero’s four-year career with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, leaving only Tracy McGrady ahead with 66 such performances. Desmond Bane added 23 points, while Jalen Suggs returned from illness to play 34 minutes.

Orlando’s 39-34 mark now forms a three-way tie for eighth with Charlotte and Miami. Ahead of that group sit Atlanta at 41-32, Toronto at 40-32 and Philadelphia at 40-33, with those three currently holding direct playoff positions, which guarantee avoiding the play-in tournament for the top six in each conference.

DeMar DeRozan posted 33 points and 11 assists for Sacramento, which almost erased a nine-point deficit in the closing minutes. Daeqwon Plowden’s 3-pointer cut Orlando’s lead to 116-115 with 50.4 seconds left, but Suggs responded with a 3-pointer 23 seconds later, creating enough separation for the Magic to close out the contest.

Kon Knueppel scored 26 points, hit six 3-pointers and became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 250 threes in a single season as Charlotte defeated New York 114-103. Knueppel, aged 20, nearly recorded a first career triple-double, finishing with 10 rebounds and eight assists during a complete performance.

LaMelo Ball added 22 points, and Brandon Miller contributed 21 points with eight rebounds, as the Hornets extended their winning streak to five. Miles Bridges and Coby White each scored 17 points. Charlotte moved to 39-34, drawing level with the Miami Heat for eighth in the East, although Miami holds the head-to-head advantage between the teams.

Jalen Brunson matched Knueppel with 26 points and handed out 13 assists for the Knicks, who missed the chance to clinch a playoff berth with a win. OG Anunoby scored 17 points in a matchup that carried clear postseason intensity, but New York’s seven-game winning run ended against a confident Charlotte side.

NBA shooting surge from Detroit Pistons against Pelicans

Jalen Duren compiled 30 points and 10 rebounds, steering the Detroit Pistons to a 129-108 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Detroit responded well after a 130-129 overtime defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on 26 March, controlling this game behind accurate 3-point shooting and balanced scoring from the backcourt.

Kevin Huerter scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins added 19 for Detroit. The Pistons, usually one of the league’s weakest 3-point teams, converted 53.6% from distance, sinking 15 of 28 attempts. Huerter and Jenkins combined to shoot 9 of 14 from beyond the arc, repeatedly punishing defensive lapses from New Orleans on the perimeter.

Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21 points, while former Piston Saddiq Bey added 17. No other Pelicans player scored more than 13 points. New Orleans also struggled from the free-throw line, converting only 45.8% and making 11 of 24 attempts, which removed opportunities to stay close after Detroit’s hot outside shooting.

Across the three games, the wins for Charlotte, Orlando and Detroit highlighted how single performances and shooting stretches can quickly influence the NBA standings, particularly for teams around the play-in positions, with Banchero, Knueppel and Duren each delivering key nights as the regular season continues to narrow.