Con Knuppel went out on Friday night before leaving town. The rookie guard made a strong impact by scoring 16 points in the first quarter as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic 120-105. However, Knuppel injured his right ankle near the end of the first half and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.
Head coach Charles Lee later revealed that X-rays on Knuppel’s ankle came back negative. The Hornets are expected to have more updates on his condition once they return home, according to the Charlotte Observer.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Knuppel landed awkwardly on Magic guard Desmond Bane’s shoe during a scramble in the paint, causing an apparent ankle twist.
Though quiet in the second quarter before the injury, Knuppel grabbed attention in the first quarter by hitting all four of his three-point attempts.
The Duke alum is enjoying a breakout season from beyond the arc. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 three-pointers.
He reached this milestone in just 29 games, breaking Lauri Markkanen’s previous record of 41 games set during the 2017-18 season with the Chicago Bulls.
Heading into Friday’s game in Orlando, Knuppel was averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting overall and 41.9 percent from long distance.
Like his former college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knuppel has quickly adapted his skill set to the NBA level.
Knuppel’s injury marks the latest setback for the Hornets this season. On Friday, the team also missed two of their top three centers, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee.
Despite these challenges, Charlotte managed to secure a road victory. Seven Hornets players scored in double digits, led by LaMelo Ball, who put up 22 points and made four three-pointers despite six turnovers. Collin Sexton added 13 points off the bench in just his second game back from a quadriceps injury.
The Hornets have shown improvement recently, but losing Knuppel for a significant period could stall their progress.
Fan Take: Knuppel’s injury is a big blow to the Hornets given his shooting prowess and scoring ability, which has been vital for the team’s recent surge. For basketball fans, this highlights the fragile nature of rookie success and the unpredictable challenges teams face in maintaining momentum throughout the grueling NBA season.
