The Charlotte Hornets suffered a blow during their 120-105 road win over the Orlando Magic, as Kon Knueppel left the game early due to a right ankle injury.
Knueppel tweaked his ankle while guarding Desmond Bane during a drive to the basket with 1:49 left in the second period. As the Charlotte Hornets rookie contested Bane’s shot, he landed awkwardly on Bane’s right foot and had to leave the court. He had 16 points, three rebounds, and four three-pointers on 5-for-7 shooting from the field.
“I thought it was a good team win by the whole group,” head coach Charles Lee said after the game via The Charlotte Observer. “And Kon helped us tremendously with the way he started the game. Obviously, we kind of just broke the huddle (just) now, and it sounds like X-rays were negative. We’ll get more information as we get back to Charlotte.”
“The impressive part about Kon is that he is such a good overall player,” he continued. “I think the threes get highlighted a ton, which they should. But outside of the shooting, what has been really impressive is what he brings on the defensive end of the floor. The physicality that he plays with.”
Charlotte Hornets News: Collin Sexton sends heartwarming message to Kon Knueppel after injury
Collin Sexton said that the Charlotte Hornets initially felt down after Kon Knueppel hurt his ankle. However, the veteran combo guard added that they used his injury as motivation to come out with the victory.
“First thing we did (at halftime), we went back there and tried to uplift him, encourage him, and tell him that we’ve got him through and through, and we’re going to be with him,” Sexton said in his postgame interview.
With Knueppel on the sidelines, the rest of the Charlotte Hornets stepped up. LaMelo Ball led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four three-pointers, while Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaun, Collin Sexton, and Moussa Diabate added 16, 15, 14, 13, and 10 points.
