Charlotte shot 19 for 39 from three-point range and earned a significant win over Orlando 120-105 Friday night, but also might have suffered a significant injury to its prized rookie.
Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel left the game late in the first half and did not return after twisting his right ankle while coming down going for a rebound.
Knueppel’s injury overshadowed a big night for Charlotte, which has now won four of its last six games. Friday was the Hornets’ first win in Orlando since Nov. 14, 2022, and the Magic are just the third team this season Charlotte has beaten that currently has a winning record (Toronto twice and Cleveland).
LaMelo Ball led seven Hornets in double figures with 22 points while adding five assists. Miles Bridges had 16, Brandon Miller added 15, Tidjane Salaun scored 14, Collin Sexton chipped in with 13 and Moussa Diabate had 10.
Anthony Black had 24 points to lead Orlando. Wendell Carter Jr. scored 16, Desmond Bane contributed with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Jase Richardson poured in 14 off the bench and Paolo Banchero scored 13.
Knueppel, a leading candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year, was tracking down Bane driving to the hoop and went up for a rebound. On his way down his right foot landed on Diabete’s right foot and Knueppel’s ankle twisted badly with 15.9 seconds left in the half.
After staying down for a couple of minutes, Knueppel, who had 16 points in just 15 minutes, was helped back to the Hornets locker room.
Knueppel helped the Hornets stake a double-digit first quarter lead. He sank all four of his 3-point attempts as Charlotte raced out to a 38-28 lead. They never trailed afterwards.
Neither team shot well in the second. A free throw by Bell gave Charlotte a 49-34 lead with 8:06 left in the half, but Orlando started to chip away. The Magic pulled to 55-44 after a three by Tristan da Silva with 3:11 left, and then both teams went over two minutes without a point.
Charlotte had another big spurt in the third quarter, blowing the lead up to as many as 24 points. The Hornets were 8-for-11 from 3-point range in the third, including two treys from Brandon Miller and three from Collin Sexton off the bench.
The Hornets cruised in the fourth as Orlando was never able to get the lead to single digits. With a game Saturday night at home against Denver, the Magic subbed out three players with 3:12 left to signal their submission.
