Cooper Flagg's record-breaking show goes in vain as Hornets edge Mavericks 123-121 in a thriller

The Charlotte Hornets pulled out a dramatic 123–121 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, spoiling a historic scoring performance by teenage star Cooper Flagg. Kon Knueppel sealed the win by calmly sinking two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining, finishing with a career-high 34 points in one of the most thrilling games of the season. Despite the loss, Flagg delivered a night for the record books. The 19-year-old scored 49 points, setting a new NBA record for most points in a game by a teenager. He surpassed the previous mark of 45, set by Cliff Robinson in 1980. Flagg was nearly unstoppable, making 20 of 29 shots from the field while also pulling down 10 rebounds for Dallas.


The decisive moment came in the final seconds with the game tied. Knueppel intercepted an errant pass by Flagg near midcourt and drove aggressively to the basket. Flagg fouled him as Knueppel attempted a shot that became wedged between the rim and backboard. Knueppel then converted both free throws to put Charlotte ahead. Flagg’s last-second attempt to force overtime bounced off the back rim.



Knueppel also had a record-setting night, knocking down eight three-pointers - the most ever by a Hornets rookie. Charlotte extended its winning streak to five games, its longest since February 2023.

Brandon Miller added 23 points for the Hornets, marking his ninth straight game with at least 20 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 22 points, including six three-pointers. For Dallas, Klay Thompson scored 16 points off the bench but struggled from deep. The Mavericks have now dropped three straight home games after a recent four-game win streak.

The matchup marked the first NBA meeting between former Duke teammates Flagg and Knueppel, adding another layer of intrigue to an unforgettable night.