Charlotte Hornets gamers have a good time after defeating the Sacramento Kings in an NBA Summer season League championship basketball recreation Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photograph/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS — Kon Knueppel, the fourth choose on this yr’s draft, scored 21 factors and Charlotte held off a Sacramento rally to beat the Kings 83-78 on Sunday for the Hornets’ first NBA Summer season League title.
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 factors and three different gamers every scored 11 for the Hornets, who ended their Summer season League run with a 6-0 report.
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Isaac Jones had 24 factors and 11 rebounds for Sacramento (5-1), and Devin Carter scored 13. Nique Clifford, drafted twenty fourth, completed with 10 factors and eight rebounds. He entered the sport averaging averaging 16.2 factors and 6.2 rebounds.
The Kings misplaced for the primary time in three journeys to the ultimate. They gained titles in 2014 and 2021.
Knueppel continued his scorching play after scoring 5 factors in his opener. He averaged 18.3 factors over his remaining 4 video games and was named the championship recreation MVP. His 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds left gave the Hornets a four-point lead.
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“Like I stated earlier than, in case you’re going to return right here, you need to win,” Knueppel stated. “In order that’s what we did.”
The Hornets dominated early, main by 36-18 within the second quarter. The Kings got here again, and Jones twice reduce the deficit to a degree late — a comply with with 1:17 left and a 3-pointer with 20.3 seconds remaining.
However the Hornets closed out the sport on the free-throw line, three gamers making 5 of 6.
“It’s a championship recreation,” Charlotte Summer season League coach Chris Jent stated. “That’s what everyone needs to see anyway, so it really works out nicely. With a purpose to win a championship, you’ve received to play by adversity.”
Hornets heart James Banks III was ejected with 3:47 left within the third quarter after choosing up a flagrant-two foul for an elbow to Sacramento heart Dylan Cardwell’s face. Cardwell went down arduous and remained on the ground throughout a lot of the video evaluate.
