Knueppel breaks rookie 3-point season record in Hornets' romp over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kon Knueppel broke the NBA rookie 3-point season record and scored 28 points, Brandon Miller had 33 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 133-109 on Thursday night.

Needing six 3-pointers to top the rookie mark of 206 set by Keegan Murray in 80 games in 2022-23, the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter was 8 of 12 to get to 209 — in just 59 games. Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds the overall record at 402.

The record-breaking 3 came with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter. Knueppel made a ball fake on Quintin Jackson to get him off his feet, dribbled left and put the shot up. The ball rattled around the rim before going through.

Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick from Duke, helped the Hornets improve to 12-3 in their last 15. They’ve also won their last nine road games.

Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 20 points, and Micah Potter had 19. The Pacers gave up 130 points for the third consecutive game for just the third time in franchise history.

Indiana shot 3 for 18 in the second quarter, and Charlotte cruised to a 67-46 halftime advantage. Miller did most of his damage in the third quarter, hitting four straight consecutive 3s. Charlotte took a 107-82 lead into the final quarter.

Hornets: Host Portland on Saturday.

Pacers: Host Memphis on Sunday.

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

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) looses the ball in front of Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) dunks in front of Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) looks to shoot around Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel shoots a 3-point shot against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, left, pulls up to shoot a 3-point basket in front of Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Olympic silver medalist Brad Marchand scored twice, Evan Rodrigues got the first short-handed goal of his career and added an assist, and the Florida Panthers resumed their playoff push with a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Marchand now has 27 goals, tying Sam Reinhart for the team lead. Olympic bronze medalist Anton Lundell had two assists for Florida, while Carter Verhaeghe and gold medalist Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers — the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions who began the night eight points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for Florida, which had lost five of its last six games going into the break.

John Tavares scored for Toronto, which started the night six points out of a playoff berth and — like the Panthers — is looking for some late-season magic to get into the postseason. Joseph Woll stopped 31 shots .

Marchand — after watching a celebration of USA Hockey's Olympic gold medal to start the game, a win that came over his Canada club — opened the scoring just 3:18 into the contest, the start of a three-goal opening period for the Panthers.

It was only the second time this season that Florida scored three times in an opening period; it had four goals in the first 20 minutes of an 8-3 win in Nashville on Nov. 24.

Verhaeghe made it 2-0 and Rodrigues — in his 604th career game — got the short-handed tally to make it 3-0. Marchand added an empty-netter with 3:09 left, and Tkachuk got another one with 1:52 remaining.

The game was Florida's 32nd home contest of the season, tied for most in the league. The Panthers are home again Friday, then play 15 of their final 23 games on the road.

Maple Leafs: Host Ottawa on Saturday.

Panthers: Host Buffalo on Friday.

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

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, left, defends a shot on the goal by Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Nicholas Robertson (89) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) defends a shot by Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shake hands before an NHL hockey game honoring the players on the USA team winning the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)