A packed 10-day schedule featured Kon Knueppel setting a new rookie three-point benchmark, with Royce O’Neale’s heroics lifting the Suns past the Lakers.
The red-hot San Antonio Spurs rolled to their 11th straight win while Kevin Durant hit a scoring milestone and Kon Knueppel made history with a rookie record.
SPURS CLAIM 11TH STRAIGHT WIN; KD ECLIPSES 32K CAREER POINTS
- San Antonio Spurs (43-16) def. Brooklyn Nets (15-43), 126-110: Julian Champagnie paced five Spurs players in double figures as San Antonio rolled to its 11th consecutive win.
[RELATED: NBA: White-hot Spurs extend winning streak to 11 after crushing Nets]
- Houston Rockets (37-21) def. Orlando Magic (31-27), 113-108: Kevin Durant became just the sixth player in NBA history to surpass 32,000 career points, anchoring a gutsy Rockets comeback over the Magic.
At 37, Durant also became the oldest player in franchise history to score 40 points in a game, while tying Kobe Bryant (431) for the fifth-most 30-point games in league history.
[RELATED: NBA: Kevin Durant drops 40, eclipses 32K career points as Rockets rally vs Magic]
- Atlanta Hawks (30-31) def. Washington Wizards (16-42), 126-96: Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum shone against their former team, leading a dominant Hawks rout of the Wizards.
The duo, acquired in the trade that sent Trae Young to Washington last month, combined for 58 points to spark Atlanta to its third consecutive win.
- Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) def. Chicago Bulls (16-42), 121-112: Jerami Grant’s 27-point effort helped theTrail Blazers hand the struggling Bulls their 11th straight loss — matching Chicago’s third-longest losing streak in franchise history.
- Sacramento Kings (14-47) def. Dallas Mavericks (21-37), 130-121: Precious Achiuwa poured in a career-high 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to push the Kings past the Mavericks.
Sacramento has now won two of its last three games after enduring a franchise-record 16-game losing streak.
KNUEPPEL SETS ROOKIE 3PM RECORD; O’NEAL RESCUES SUNS
- Charlotte Hornets (29-31) def. Indiana Pacers (15-45), 133-109: Kon Knueppel broke the rookie single-season 3-point record and poured in 28 points in a 24-point rout of the struggling Pacers.
Needing six triples to surpass the previous rookie mark of 206 set by Keegan Murray during the 2022-23 season, the Duke product hit 8 of 12 to reach 209 — and did it in just 59 games.
[RELATED: NBA: Kon Knueppel sets new rookie 3-point record as Hornets decimate Pacers]
- Phoenix Suns (34-26) def. LA Lakers (34-24), 113-110: Royce O’Neale delivered in the clutch, scoring the Suns’ final seven points — capped by the game-winning triple — to outlast Luka Doncic’s 41-point outburst and the Lakers.
[RELATED: NBA: Royce O'Neale game-winner sinks Lakers as Suns escape in thriller]
- Minnesota Timberwolves (37-23) def. LA Clippers (27-31), 94-88: Back on the floor where he captured All-Star Game MVP, Anthony Edwards poured in 31 points to help continue the Timberwolves’ hot surge.
- New Orleans Pelicans (18-42) def. Utah Jazz (18-41), 113-110: Saddiq Bey erupted for a season-high 42 points as the Pelicans notched their third straight win at the expense of the Jazz.
It marked the second 40-point game of Bey’s NBA career, while Zion Williamson added 20 points and four steals in the victory.
- Philadelphia 76ers (33-26) def. Miami Heat (31-29), 124-117: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid combined for 54 points, leading the 76ers to their third straight win after holding off the Heat.
[RELATED: NBA: Sixers squander 16-point lead, but recover in time to beat Heat]
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.