Hornets’ Kon Knueppel scores 16 points in first quarter but leaves win over Magic with right ankle injury

Kon Knueppel left before going out Friday night. The rookie guard scored 16 points in the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets’ 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic (17-14), but the No. 4 overall draft pick suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half that sidelined him for the rest of the game.

Coach Charles Lee said afterward that it appeared that X-rays on Knueppel’s ankle were negative and that the Hornets (11-20) will get more information on Knueppel when the team returns home, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.

Announcement

With less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Knueppel appeared to roll his ankle after landing on the shoe of Magic guard Desmond Bane on a scramble in the paint.

While Knueppel was quiet in the second quarter before his injury, he turned heads with his first-quarter outburst, which saw him make all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Duke product has enjoyed record-breaking success beyond the arc this season. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 3-pointers.

It took him 29 games to do so, surpassing Lauri Markkanen, who reached the 41-game mark with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.

Knueppel came into Friday’s matchup in Orlando averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting, with a 41.9 percent clip from long range.

Announcement

Like college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel quickly transferred his skills to the NBA.

Knueppel’s injury is the latest the Hornets have suffered this season. They were notably down two of their top three centers on Friday, as both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee were unavailable.

However, Charlotte found a way to win on the road. Seven different Hornets scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the charge with 22 points and made four 3s, albeit with six turnovers attached to his stats. Collin Sexton, in his second game back from a quad injury, scored 13 points off the bench.

Announcement

The Hornets have been playing better basketball as of late, but losing Knueppel for a significant period of time could hinder that progress.