Hornets edge Mavericks 123-121 to spoil Cooper Flagg' 49-point game

DALLAS (AP) — Kon Knueppel made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left for a career-high 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 on Thursday night, spoiling Duke roommate Cooper Flagg's 49-point game.

Flagg, who turned 19 in December, broke the NBA record for points in a game by a teen. Cliff Robinson set the previous record of 45 at age 19 for New Jersey in a game against Detroit on March 9, 1980.

Flagg set career highs with 20 field goals on 29 shots, and also had 10 rebounds.

Knueppel grabbed an errant pass by Flagg near midcourt with seven seconds left and the score tied. He drove to the basket and was fouled by Flagg as the ball lodged between the rim and the backboard. Flagg’s shot at the buzzer to send it to overtime hit the back of the rim.

Knueppel made eight 3-pointers to set a rookie record for the Hornets, who have won five consecutive games for their longest winning streak since a five-game run in February 2023.

Brandon Miller scored 23 points, his ninth straight game with at least 20 points, for Charlotte. LaMelo added 22, hitting six 3-pointers.

Klay Thompson scored 16 points off the bench for Dallas, shooting 4 of 11 on 3s. The Mavericks have lost three straight — all at home — following a season-best, four-game winning streak.

The Hornets swept a road back-to-back while the Mavericks were swept in a home back-to-back.

The game was the first NBA meeting between Flagg and Knueppel, the 2024-25 Duke freshmen.

Mark Aguirre, Dallas’ only previous first-overall draftee after the franchise initial season in 1980-81, became the team’s fifth player to have his jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.

Hornets: Host San Antonio on Saturday.

Mavericks: At Houston on Saturday night

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

Former Dallas Mavericks player Mark Aguirre, second from front right, is joined by family as a banner is raised during his jersey retirement presentation at halftime during an NBA basketball game between the Mavericks and the Charlotte Hornets, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball dribbles the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) guards Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel looks to shoot the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) during an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) defends against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, center left, during an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes put together one of the most improbable comebacks in NHL history on Thursday night.

With three late goals, the Hurricanes became the first team in more than 30 years and third overall to rally from two goals down in the final two minutes to win in regulation, beating the Utah Mammoth 5-4.

“It’s making memories,” Staal said. “I love being part of nights like this. You want more of them. You’re chasing those memories.”

The other teams to score three goals in the last two minutes to win were the Dallas Stars against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 14, 1995, and the Montreal Maroons against the New York Rangers on March 15, 1932.

Staal’s goal with 29.4 seconds left completed the comeback. Carolina's captain redirected the puck after it came off teammate Jordan Martinook’s stick.

“I don’t know you draw them up, but at the end of the day we found a way,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Kind of a crazy last couple of minutes.”

With Carolina trailing 4-2, Andrei Svechnikov began the rally on a power play with 1:59 remaining and Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi on the bench. Shayne Gostisbehere, who missed the previous five games with an injury, notched his second goal of the night with 1:29 to go.

“I think that’s something to be said about this building, too,” Staal said. “I think the fans here are great. They’re always behind us. But when it gets going and gets fired up, you can tell guys feed off of that. … Momentum is a funny thing in this game (and) the fans pushed us to another level.”

Staal cut toward the crease to produce his 12th goal of the season. It was his second goal in the Canes' last 19 games.

“That’s how we should play all the time,” Svechnikov said. “A couple of bounces for us, obviously, but we (stuck) with the plan.”

Earlier Carolina mistakes resulted in goals for the Mammoth, but the Hurricanes finally found a response.

“Things don’t always go your way throughout games,” Staal said.

It was a stunning turnaround for Utah, too.

“We were exactly where we wanted to be,” Mammoth coach André Tourigny said. “Let it sting for now.”

There also was an NHL record registered by Bussi (20-3-1), a rookie who became the first goalie with 20 wins in his first 24 career games. Carolina stretched its points streak to six games.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes players celebrate after the winning goal by Jordan Staal with Utah Mammoth's Jack McBain (22) nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi, right, is congratulated after his win over the Utah Mammoth in an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, center top, protests a call during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal, third from right, celebrates after his winning goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) is celebrates after his winning goal with teammate Jordan Martinook (48) with Utah Mammoth's Mikhail Sergachev (98) nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)