Hornets beat Magic 120-105 after rookie Kon Knueppel injures ankle in first half

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 22 points and seven rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 120-105 on Friday night after losing rookie forward Kon Knueppel to a right ankle injury in the first half.

Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Charlotte shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range and led by 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Black led Orlando with 24 points. Desmond Bane added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Hornets had a 57-48 lead in the final seconds of the first half when Knueppel, who ranks second among NBA rookies in scoring and 3-point shooting, went down with the injury. He had scored 16 points, all in the first quarter, while making all four of his 3-point shots. Hornets coach Charles Lee said X-rays on Knueppel's ankle were negative and he would be evaluated again when the team returns to Charlotte.

Three 3-pointers by Collin Sexton late in the third quarter helped the Hornets stretch a 16-point lead to 24.

Led by Diabate, Bridges and Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets had a 53-42 rebound edge in winning for the fourth time in six games.

The Magic, who have lost four of six after winning in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, played without injured starters Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs,

Hornets: Play at Milwaukee on Monday night.

Magic: Play at home against Denver on Saturday night.

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Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, right, looks for a shot against Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, center, tries to maintain possession of a loose ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann, left, and guard Sion James, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) passes the ball as Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Orlando Robinson, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics made 20 3-pointers in a 140-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

The All-NBA forward, who is averaging 29.4 points, shot 13 of 20 from the field and made two 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard added 29 points, making three 3s, and grabbed nine rebounds.

The Celtics were 20 of 39 from beyond the arc compared to the Pacers' 18 of 44. Reserve Sam Hauser was 7 for 8 behind the arc and scored 23 points, while Derrick White added 21 points with three 3s.

The Celtics (19-11), winners of four in a row and back-to-back games against Indiana, were starting a five-game road trip.

Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers (6-25) with 18 points and four 3s.

The Celtics trailed by 15 midway through the first quarter, but methodically chipped away at the deficit, then pulled away with six 3-pointers in a 47-point second quarter for a 75-61 halftime lead.

Celtics: Visit Portland on Sunday.

Pacers: Visit Miami on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) looks to shoot around Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, right, dunks in front of Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, right, battles for a rebound with Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff, front right, goes up to shoot in front of Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, second from front right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) goes up to shoot around Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)