What a game for the rook! NBA rookie Dalton Knecht fired all cylinders on November 20 after recording a career-high 37 points including a record-tying 9 triples to seal the win for the Los Angeles Lakers against the visiting Utah Jazz 124-118.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis also had a terrific night in the dub. LBJ created a 26-point, 12-assist double-double while AD dominated the boards with 14 rebounds on top of his 26 points.
Lauri Markannen, who has been quiet so far, also exploded for 25 points and 8 rebounds despite the loss. Collin Sexton also chipped in with 19 points while Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George, and John Collins all had 18 apiece.
The Lakers, who are the reigning In-Season Tournament champs, are now 2-0 in the NBA Cup after winning both games against the Spurs and the Jazz.
Dalton Connects!
The 23-year-old rookie was automatic from long range, sinking 9 of his 12 attempts from three-point land. Knecht gave his finest performance this season with 37 points and 75% field goal percentage. On the other hand, his nine threes tie the NBA record for most three-pointers made by a rookie in a single game while also becoming the fourth Laker to complete nine shots from downtown, joining elite guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and D’Angelo Russell.
All of these were just right after his 27-piece outing against the New Orleans Pelicans last Monday.
Knecht, the former University of Tennessee standout who was drafted 17th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, has already made a significant impact on the Lakers’ roster. Through 14 games, he’s averaging 11.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as well as an impressive 45.7% three-point shooting percentage.
What’s ironic is Utah could have taken Knecht with their 10th pick, but opted for a bigger forward, the 6-foot-8 Cody Williams. Unfortunately, Williams has yet to show his true potential.
Los Angeles, 10-4, have won 6 straight games and are 6-0 at home. They’re currently sitting in the No. 3 seed in the West. As for the Jazz, they continue to tank and are now 3-11, the worst team in the Western Conference.
