Hornets vs Raptors | Kon Knueppel Postgame Availability | 11/29/2025

Hornets vs Raptors | Kon Knueppel Postgame Availability | 11/29/2025

Khan, obviously uh the big shot there in the left corner to tie the game with about 10 seconds left. Can you walk us through a little bit of just what you were seeing? We heard from Charles. Uh but just, you know, what you saw and kind of just the feeling of of hitting a shot like that to to get you guys to overtime and ultimately win. Yeah. Um you know, obviously we drew up the play and I was kind of the first first option in like the in the set. Um you know, I was just the first guy to pop open. Um, and so you know, Seion kind of looked away from me for a second, but then he saw that I was open and threw it. Um, and we, me and Grant talked about before, uh, like I think the possession before, um, before we called the timeout and drew the play that, you know, this is a good time to like maybe get the shot fake, like maybe get the guy in the air, lean in. So that’s why you see I kind of like shot fake a little bit there and then he doesn’t jump, but then I just shot it. Um, but yeah, obviously big shot and glad I went in. you guys uh you were 0 for five or 0 and five in clutch time and and now back-to-back wins in clutch time pulling out these close games. Are you guys feel like those reps and kind of going through some of those those shortcomings have helped you maybe get over the hump a little bit to kind of get to the point where you’re starting to pull out these close games? Yeah, I mean it’s definitely nice, you know, um having those first couple games that are um you know, we didn’t execute the way we wanted to at the end of the game and now these past two games, you know, not really turning it over there in the in clutch time and crunch time and getting shots up on board and then getting stops and rebounds. It’s been it’s been fun. Started the season shooting really well the past two games. You were, I think, two of 16. Tonight, you’re four of seven. From a shooters mindset, kind of what do you kind of think of not getting too high or too low in these scenarios? Yeah, I mean the two games before that I was 13 of 20 and then you know two of 16, you know, just that’s sometimes how it goes. It’s always going to regress to the mean or, you know, go go back to, you know, around 40. I like I hope it’s a little bit higher than that uh this season, but um you know, you just keep keep getting the right shots. You know, I the past two games I was getting the right shots. I just weren’t going in. Um so I’m going to keep shooting them. Yeah. What does it mean for you to be able to It’s not a slump for you. It’s only a couple of games, but to be able to come out here, contribute the way you did, and get a win and shoot the ball well. How’s it feel for you to be able to do that? Great. Yeah. Um, you know, I think on a night we didn’t shoot great as a team, uh, you know, uh, we we’d like to be make some shots. You know, the last couple games we haven’t really shot very well from three. Um, but, you know, it’s, you know, it’s good to get get back in the rhythm, I guess, personally. And you know hopefully we can have a team have a team game where everybody shoots well. After a couple games recently you guys have lamented the lack of physicality at the beginning of games when you have gone down early. Tonight you guys closed with incredible physicality. What led to that change in your mindset and what do you think playing with that physicality towards the end of the game did for you guys in that closing kick? Yeah, I mean for most of the game we got murdered on the rebounds. Um, so, you know, it was really just getting some of those rebounds at the end of the game, hold them to one shot. Um, and that that was the difference. Um, obviously 52 to 39. It was like 24 to 10 I felt like at one point and I was like, geez, that’s not good. But, um, you know, we finished finish strong and physical. K, what does it uh do for you guys to be able to win games like this when Charles is trying to juggle the the minutes for LaMelo and Brandon and and you guys are able to pull this off? Yeah, you know, that’s that’s hard and that’s hard for those guys. You know, it’s uh it’s hard to get a rhythm uh for those guys personally like B Mill coming in and out of the game. That’s that’s tough to do. Um you know, it’s kind of tough as a team too when guys are were shuffling the lineup like that. Um but I know just collective effort. Colin Ston was awesome tonight again, you know, just bringing his energy and his effort. Um, same with Musa. I thought those guys were big for us. You feel compelled, this is a little off topic, the college football world went a little crazy today. Would do you have a relative that refereed the biggest game in college football today? Yeah, my uncle Cole refed the game. You know, he’s he’s been uh Yeah, he’s been refing in the Big 10 for a while. He’s a white hat. Um, and he he texts me every week picture of where he’s at. And then today, uh, he sent me a picture of an Ohio State mug and a Michigan mug right next to each other. I was like, “Oh, sweet. He’s got the game.” And then I got a bunch about 20 texts. Uh, Miles in his Encore postgame interview said, “Chan Kipple saved my life with that three in the corner.” And you talk about his game and his performance tonight. I think he had 35. Yeah, he was awesome tonight. I think his pace, especially in overtime, was very good. I think he, you know, overreacts a little bit when he’s saying that. Uh, he said 35. Um, but yeah, he was he was disappointed to miss that free throw. He’s he’s a really good free throw shooter, so he’s uh he always gets pissed off when he misses those. A few weeks ago, you kind of lamented the idea of you guys not being whole. You people playing roles they weren’t intended to play. The last two games, the starting lineup has been together, and you guys have pulled out a couple of close wins. What does it say about the potential of this group now that you guys are getting closer to hole about what you guys can do going forward? Yeah, I mean I think we can compete on any any night with any team. Um, you know, I I think we did that for the most part um in some of our other games even without our guys. Um, that just speaks to the competitiveness of the group, but you know, it’s good to have everybody back and we look forward to having uh JG and Grant back as well. Chin.

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