Kon Knueppel sets rookie 3-point record as Hornets roll Pacers

Kon Knueppel set the NBA single-season rookie record for 3-pointers and Brandon Miller matched a season high with 33 points, fueling the Charlotte Hornets to a 133-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Indianapolis.

Knueppel highlighted his 28-point performance by matching his own franchise rookie record with eight 3-pointers, boosting his season total to 209 -- three more than Keegan Murray's mark in 2022-23.

Knueppel was the fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Hornets, who have 22 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.

Miller, who scored 19 points in the third quarter, made 11 of 19 shots from the floor for the game and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. His point total on Thursday matched his output on New Year's Eve, set in Charlotte's 132-125 setback to the Golden State Warriors.

LaMelo Ball collected 20 points and eight assists and Moussa Diabate contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who extended their franchise-best road winning streak to nine games.

Charlotte, which has won three in a row overall and 13 of its last 16 games, shot a robust 55.8% from the floor (48 of 86) and 47.8% from 3-point range (22 of 46). The Hornets also held a decisive 46-37 advantage in rebounds.

Indiana's Andrew Nembhard contributed 20 points and seven assists and Micah Potter added 19 points off the bench.

Jarace Walker added 16 points for the free-falling Pacers, who have dropped five in a row and nine of their last 11 games.

Indiana played without Pascal Siakam (left wrist sprain) and Aaron Nesmith (sprained right ankle).

The Pacers claimed a 34-31 lead after the first quarter before the Hornets responded with a dominant display in the second. Grant Williams sank a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions at one point before Knueppel drained his fifth 3-pointer to cap the scoring and give the Hornets a 67-46 advantage at halftime.

Knueppel etched his name into the record book by using a brilliant pump fake before calmly sinking a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to push Charlotte's lead to 103-77. He capped the Hornets' 40-point quarter with a turnaround jumper with 1.7 seconds to play.

Knueppel added his seventh and eighth 3-pointers early in the fourth as Charlotte coasted to victory.

--Field Level Media