Knueppel’s near triple-double helps Hornets pull away from Knicks

The Knicks hang around early, but Charlotte keeps finding another gear every time New York threatens to make it a game. What starts as a one-possession battle quickly becomes a Hornets-controlled night, with Kon Knueppel stuffing the stat sheet, LaMelo Ball steering the offense, and Charlotte stretching the floor just enough to turn a competitive matchup into a comfortable 114-103 win.

The opening quarter has some punch to it. Charlotte jumps ahead with a quick 8-0 burst, sparked when M. Bridges cuts and dunks with LaMelo Ball setting the table, and the Hornets are up 14-7 before New York settles in. But the Knicks answer with their own 10-0 stretch late in the first, capped by Jalen Brunson hitting a free throw for his 10th point to pull New York back within 26-24. It’s the kind of back-and-forth start that suggests a long night — and for a while, it is. Brunson is probing, OG Anunoby is knocking down threes, and New York keeps the margin within reach.

Then Charlotte starts winning the middle minutes. The Hornets open the second quarter with a cleaner pace and sharper execution, and the separation begins to show on a couple of decisive possessions. First, C. White snakes in for a running layup in the middle of a 9-0 run that turns a one-point game into a 58-49 Charlotte lead. Later in the quarter, M. Bridges buries a 9-foot turnaround jumper off a Brunson dime — a play that feels almost symbolic of the Hornets’ night, with the ball moving freely and Charlotte getting quality looks in rhythm. By halftime, the Hornets are up 65-55, and the Knicks are already chasing.

The real turning point arrives in the third. Charlotte comes out and stretches the floor, pushing the lead to as many as 21 while New York’s offense stalls. Kon Knueppel knocks down a 3-pointer at the 4:00 mark of the fourth, but the game is effectively decided much earlier; the Hornets’ third-quarter surge makes the margin too steep for New York to fully overcome. By the time the final period begins, Charlotte is sitting on a 94-76 advantage, and the Knicks are trying to manufacture urgency against a defense that’s getting enough stops and enough transition chances to protect the lead. Knueppel’s efficiency matters here — he finishes with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, hitting six threes and shooting 64 percent from the field. That’s not just scoring; that’s offense coming from everywhere.

New York does show some life in the fourth, mostly through Josh Hart’s relentless activity. He drills a 27-foot three with 2:20 left to cut it to 108-98, then later drops a running pull-up from deep to get the Knicks within single digits again. Brunson also keeps trying to apply pressure, and his late driving floater trims the margin to 108-92 before Hart’s perimeter shot and a later driving layup keep the score respectable. But Charlotte never really loses control. Jalen Brunson’s steal at 4:54 and Josh Hart’s layup are strong individual hustle plays, yet the Hornets answer every mini-rally. Diabaté swipes a steal with 1:45 left, Bridges finishes at the rim with 40.5 seconds left, and Charlotte keeps the Knicks at arm’s length until the buzzer.

This was a night where Charlotte’s depth and shot-making won out over New York’s resistance. LaMelo Ball posts 22 points and 6 assists, Brandon Miller adds 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Bridges chips in 17 with timely scoring and playmaking. Brunson delivers 26 points and 13 assists for New York, and OG Anunoby adds 17 with five threes, but the Knicks never find enough defensive stops to turn those numbers into momentum. The Hornets move to 114 points with a balanced, efficient attack, and the bigger takeaway is encouraging: when Charlotte’s perimeter shooting is flowing and Ball is organizing the offense, this group can create separation fast. For New York, the loss underscores how hard it is to win when the defense gives up big runs and the margin gets away early — especially with the playoff race tightening and every trip mattering more from here on out.