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January 27, 2026
Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel deliver historic duel in Dallas
The two former Duke teammates engaged in an epic battle with 49 points for Flagg and 34 points for Knueppel, who sealed the Hornets' 123-121 victory.
Jan 29, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
What a show at the American Airlines Center! Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, former teammates at Duke, delivered one of the best rookie duels in recent years. While Flagg scored a historic record of 49 points at just 19 years old, it was Knueppel who had the last word by sinking the game-winning free throws for Charlotte (123-121).
A historic record for Cooper Flagg despite the loss
The number 1 pick of the 2025 Draft delivered an outstanding performance with 49 points on 20/29 shooting, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. This performance sets a new NBA record for a 19-year-old player, surpassing Cliff Robinson’s 45 points in 1980. Flagg also became the Mavericks rookie scoring record holder, surpassing Mark Aguirre – whose jersey was being retired that very night in a twist of fate.
History was made tonight ⭐️
Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are the first pair of opposing rookies that went to the same college to each drop 30+ points in the same game.
The two combined for 83 points… the most of any two opposing rookies in over 50 years 🤯 https://t.co/jbnHVgDSQ2 pic.twitter.com/mJwscMiFXt
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2026
Quiet early in the game with only 2 points in the first quarter, Flagg exploded in the second period with 14 points in less than five minutes. He then added 15 more points in the third quarter before carrying Dallas in crunch time. The forward now joins LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only players to record multiple 40-point games before turning 20.
Kon Knueppel rises to the challenge and secures the victory
Against his former teammate, Knueppel held his own with 34 points on 10/16 shooting, including a franchise rookie record with 8 three-pointers made on 12 attempts. The Hornets guard caught fire in the first quarter by draining four threes, allowing Charlotte to build a 13-point lead.
The drama unfolded until the final seconds. After Flagg tied the game at 121-121 on a huge 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, Knueppel intercepted a pass from his former teammate before drawing a foul… from that same Flagg. His two free throws with 4.1 seconds left sealed a fifth consecutive victory for the Hornets.
Combined, the two rookies totaled 83 points, the highest mark between two opposing rookies in 50 years. This collective performance puts Charlotte just 3 wins behind the Bulls for tenth place in the East, which means play-in contention. The showdown between these former Blue Devils promises a thrilling end to the season in the Rookie of the Year race.
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