LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 25 – Rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to reach 200 three-pointers in NBA history as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Chicago Bulls 131-99.
The 20-year-old American scored 21 points, including three three-pointers, while Brandon Miller added 23 as the visiting Hornets condemned the Bulls to a 10th consecutive defeat for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Knueppel needed only 58 games to tally up his 200th three-pointer – 11 less than previous record holder Duncan Robinson – and is also just the second rookie to reach the milestone.
With a league-leading 201 three-pointers, Knueppel only needs six more to break Keegan Murray’s record of 206 in 2022-23 for the Sacramento Kings for the most threes made by a rookie in their first season.
Having played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, Knueppel was drafted as a fourth overall pick by the Hornets in the 2025 draft.
“It is exciting and refreshing [to coach Knueppel],” said head coach Charles Lee after the Hornets’ eighth straight win on the road.
“It elevates our whole culture when you have a guy who is that good but that humble and has no ego, and it becomes contagious throughout the whole organisation.”
Meanwhile, new signing James Harden scored 20 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers returned to winning ways with a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks.
The result helped them draw level on 37 wins and 22 losses with the Knicks, who are third in the Eastern Conference.
Harden, who left the Los Angeles Clippers this month, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but the 36-year-old has never won an NBA title.
“We’re working to build something special, and each game is an opportunity to get better,” said Harden. “Tonight was a good step for us.”
The Boston Celtics consolidated second place with a 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns while the Philadelphia 76ers posted a 135-114 win against the Indiana Pacers, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference after reaching the NBA Finals last year.
Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the Toronto Raptors 116-107 while sixth-placed Los Angeles Lakers were edged by Orlando Magic 110-109 and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 124-121.
