Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel combined for 83 points on January 29, 2026.
One of the best games of the 2025-26 NBA season took place on January 29, 2026.
The Dallas Mavericks hosted the Charlotte Hornets and rookies Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel put on a show. The Duke products combined for 83 points in the Hornets' 123-121 win against the Mavericks.
Flagg erupted for 49 points, while Knueppel put up 34 points.
During a recent interview with Malika Andrews of ESPN, Flagg reminisced about his epic duel with Knueppel.
Flagg and Knueppel are very close friends. They were roommates at Duke and will likely be the future faces of the NBA.
For the Hornets this season, Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 48.8% from the field, 43.8% from beyond the arc and 87.3% from the free-throw line. He leads the league in 3s.
Meanwhile, for the Mavericks, Flagg is putting up 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 47.1% overall, 29.1% from 3 and 80.4% from the foul line. He leads all rookies in points per game.
It will be intriguing to see who wins the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award. It will come down to Flagg to Knueppel.
Knueppel was named Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February. The sharpshooter claimed the award for the fourth-straight month to begin his career, becoming the first player in Hornets history to win Rookie of the Month four times and the first NBA player to do so since Orlando Magic swingman Paolo Banchero in 2022-23.
Knueppel has been stellar on the offensive end for the Hornets, but Charlotte head coach Charles Lee has been impressed with the Milwaukee native's defensive play as well.
"Defensively, you really see his basketball intelligence," Lee said, via The Athletic. "He understands player tendencies really well. He's really able to understand how to close out: What are the angles I even need to take to close out on somebody? If I'm shifting on somebody, at what level or depth do I need to be at? If a guy is a lesser shooter. He's a little bit flatter in his shifts; if the guy's a better shooter, he's higher in his shift to not allow a direct pass to that guy."
The Hornets are 34-34 on the season. They are in 10th place in the East.
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