Teenager Flagg sets 46-year-old NBA scoring record in Hornets win

Charlotte Hornets Edge Out Dallas Mavericks Behind Career-Highs from Knueppel and LaMelo

The Charlotte Hornets secured their fifth consecutive win, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 in a closely contested game. Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with a career-high 34 points, including eight three-pointers that set a rookie record for the team.

Cooper Flagg, who turned 19 in December, scored 49 points, breaking the NBA record for most points by a teenager in a single game. The previous record was held by Cliff Robinson, who achieved it at age 19 in 1980. Flagg also grabbed 10 rebounds and set career highs with 20 field goals on 29 shots.

With seven seconds left, Knueppel intercepted an errant pass from Flagg near midcourt and drove to the basket, where he was fouled by Flagg as the ball lodged between the rim and the backboard. The Mavericks’ shot at the buzzer to send it to overtime hit the back of the rim.

Brandon Miller scored 23 points for Charlotte, while LaMelo added 22 points, including six three-pointers. Klay Thompson scored 16 points off the bench for Dallas, shooting 4 of 11 on three-pointers. The Mavericks have lost three straight games at home, following a season-best four-game winning streak.

The game marked the first NBA meeting between Flagg and Knueppel, who are both freshmen at Duke. Mark Aguirre, the Mavericks’ only previous first-overall draftee, had his jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.

Source: Al Jazeera