This was such a cool night.
Duke legends Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel set all-time NBA record in Mavericks-Hornets showdown of ex-Blue Devils originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel met for the first time on an NBA court on Thursday night.
And man oh man, the former Duke Blue Devils put on an epic show.
Flagg dropped a career-high 49 points, a Dallas Mavericks rookie record.
Knueppel countered with 34 points of his own.
Kon got the last laugh, as the Charlotte Hornets outlasted the Mavs.
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In the process, they set an all-time record.
Flagg and Knueppel are the first pair of opposing rookies from the same college to both score 30 points in the same game.
And their 83 combined points are the most by any two opposing rookies in more than a half-century, with both of those stats coming officially from the NBA.
History was made tonight ⭐️
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2026
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/jbnHVgDSQ2pic.twitter.com/mJwscMiFXt
Flagg's stat line was ridiculous.
He had his 49 points on 20-for-29 shooting, including 3-for-5 from 3, and 6-for-6 from the foul line.
He added 10 rebounds, three assists and a block.
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Knueppel shot 10-for-16 from the floor, including 8-for-12 from 3, and also made all six of his free throws. He added four boards, three assists and a steal.
It had to be a fun night for everyone back in Durham to watch, especially with the team from Charlotte getting the 123-121 win as Flagg missed his last shot attempt.
These two guys are leading the league in rookie scoring, and they're showing that their epic performances at Duke weren't a fluke.
Flagg and Knueppel are both the future of the NBA, and on Thursday night, against one another, they brought out each other's best in a special way.
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Category: General Sports
