NBA: Kon Knuepel of the Charlotte Hornets races toward the NBA record for three-pointers

Rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to reach 200 3-pointers in NBA history as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Chicago Bulls 131-99.

The 20-year-old American scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while Brandon Miller added 23 as the visiting Hornets condemned the Bulls to their 10th straight loss for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Knuepel needed just 58 games to hit his 200th 3-pointer – 11 shy of previous record holder Duncan Robinson – and is also only the second rookie to reach the milestone.

With a league-leading 201 3-pointers, Knueppel needs just six more to break Keegan Murray’s record of 206 in 2022-23 for the Sacramento Kings for the most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a first season.

After playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, Knueppel was selected as the fourth overall pick by the Hornets in the 2025 draft.

“It’s exciting and refreshing (coach Knuepel),” head coach Charles Lee said after the Hornets’ eighth straight road win.

“It elevates our whole culture when you have a guy that’s that good, but that humble and has no ego, and it becomes contagious throughout the organization.”

Meanwhile, new signing James Harden scored 20 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers returned to winning ways with a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks.

The result helped them tie at 37-22 with the Knicks, who are third in the Eastern Conference.

Harden, co left the Los Angeles Clippers this month is an 11-time NBA All-Star and is considered one of the greatest guards in history, but the 36-year-old has never won an NBA title.

“We’re working to make something special, and every game is an opportunity to get better,” Harden said. “Tonight was a good step for us.”

The Boston Celtics solidified second place with a 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns, while the Philadelphia 76ers posted a 135-114 win against the Indiana Pacers, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference after reaching the NBA Finals last year.

Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Toronto Raptors 116-107, while the sixth-ranked Los Angeles Lakers edged the Orlando Magic 110-109, and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 124-121.