In a thrilling showdown, the Charlotte Hornets narrowly defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 on January 29, 2026, showcasing some incredible individual performances. Kon Knueppel made his mark by sinking two crucial free throws with just 4.1 seconds remaining in the game, culminating in a career-high 34 points. This victory was particularly poignant as it overshadowed an extraordinary performance from his Duke college teammate, Cooper Flagg, who lit up the court with a staggering 49-point game.
At only 19 years old, Flagg set a new NBA record for the most points scored in a game by a teenager. The previous record of 45 points was held by Cliff Robinson, who achieved this feat at the age of 19 during a matchup between New Jersey and Detroit back on March 9, 1980.
Flagg's performance was remarkable; he not only scored a career-high with 20 field goals out of 29 attempts but also contributed significantly on the boards with 10 rebounds to his name.
With just seven seconds left and the game tied, Knueppel intercepted a wayward pass from Flagg near midcourt. He aggressively drove towards the basket and was fouled by Flagg, resulting in a situation where the basketball became lodged between the rim and the backboard. Flagg had an opportunity to extend the game into overtime but his buzzer-beater attempt unfortunately bounced off the back of the rim.
Knueppel's impressive night included eight successful three-pointers, setting a rookie record for the Hornets. This victory marked the team’s fifth consecutive win, the longest streak they have had since February 2023.
Brandon Miller also delivered a solid performance for Charlotte, scoring 23 points, marking his ninth consecutive game with at least 20 points. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball added 22 points to the scoreboard, including six three-pointers.
For the Mavericks, Klay Thompson came off the bench to contribute 16 points, shooting 4 of 11 from beyond the arc. Unfortunately for Dallas, this loss was their third in a row at home, following an earlier season-best four-game winning streak.
As the Hornets completed a successful road back-to-back, the Mavericks faced the opposite fate, enduring a sweep in their own home back-to-back series.
This game also marked the first-ever NBA encounter between Flagg and Knueppel, both of whom were freshmen at Duke during the 2024-25 season.
In a related highlight, Mark Aguirre, who was the only player chosen first overall in a draft by the Mavericks after the franchise began in the 1980-81 season, had his jersey retired in a halftime ceremony, becoming the fifth player in the team's history to receive this honor.
Looking ahead, the Hornets are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, while the Mavericks will travel to Houston for their next game that same evening.
