Flagg’s 49 points can’t outrun Knueppel’s clutch 34 in tight loss

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg erupted for 49 points to set the NBA teen scoring mark and break the Mavericks’ franchise rookie record (the latter held by Mark Aguirre, whose jersey was retired at halftime), but ex‑Duke teammate Kon Knueppel answered with a career‑high 34 and hit two late free throws to lift Charlotte past Dallas 123–121. The two top ROY candidates each finished the night among the leaders in rookie scoring, and they’ll meet again March 3 in Charlotte.