Knueppel’s Late Free Throws Secure Hornets Victory as Flagg Sets NBA Teenage Scoring Record

Key Takeaways:

• Kon Knueppel tallied a career-high 34 points, clinching Charlotte’s 123-121 triumph over Dallas with two free throws in the final seconds
• Cooper Flagg became the NBA’s all-time leading teenage scorer in a single game, posting 49 points while adding 10 rebounds for the Mavericks
• The Hornets extended their winning streak to five, marking their longest run since February 2023, while Dallas suffered a third straight home defeat

Flagg’s Historic Performance Not Enough for Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, who turned 19 in December, entered the record books by registering 49 points, setting an NBA record for the highest single-game total by a teenager. The previous mark of 45 points, held by Cliff Robinson for New Jersey against Detroit on 9 March 1980, was surpassed as Flagg sank 20 of his 29 field-goal attempts and also gathered 10 rebounds.

Despite Flagg’s remarkable individual display, the Dallas Mavericks found themselves edged out at home by the Charlotte Hornets in a dramatic contest that went down to the final seconds.

COOPER FLAGG VS. KON KNUEPPEL WAS A ROOKIE SHOWDOWN 🔥👏

FLAGG: 49 PTS, 20-29 FG, 10 REB
KNUEPPEL: 34 PTS, 10-16 FG, 8 3PM

Former Duke teammates shining in the league 🙌 pic.twitter.com/uR21BDbi9e

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2026

Knueppel’s Clutch Plays Seal Hornets’ Win

Kon Knueppel produced a career-high 34 points and was pivotal in the dying stages. With the score level and seven seconds remaining, Knueppel intercepted an errant Flagg pass near midcourt, drove to the basket, and drew a foul from Flagg as the ball became wedged between the rim and backboard. He proceeded to convert both free throws with 4.1 seconds left. Flagg’s last-gasp effort to force overtime bounced off the back rim at the buzzer.

Knueppel’s performance included eight made three-pointers, establishing a new Hornets rookie record. Charlotte’s current five-match winning streak is their longest since a five-game sequence in February 2023.

Supporting Cast and Game Statistics

Brandon Miller contributed 23 points for Charlotte, chalking up his ninth consecutive game with at least 20 points. LaMelo added 22 and made six three-pointers. For Dallas, Klay Thompson delivered 16 points from the bench, connecting on four of eleven attempts from deep. The Mavericks have now lost three on the bounce, all at home, after previously enjoying a four-game winning spell.

Both teams experienced contrasting back-to-back sets: Charlotte swept their road double while Dallas were defeated in back-to-back home games.

Ceremonies and Upcoming Fixtures

The fixture marked the first NBA meeting between Flagg and Knueppel, both freshmen at Duke for the 2024-25 season. During halftime, Dallas paid tribute to Mark Aguirre – the club’s only previous first-overall draft pick after their inaugural 1980-81 season – making him the franchise’s fifth player to have his jersey retired.

Looking ahead, the Hornets are scheduled to host San Antonio on Saturday, while the Mavericks will travel to Houston that same night.