LAS VEGAS (AP) \u2014 Kon Knueppel, the fourth pick in this year’s draft, scored 21 points and Charlotte held off a Sacramento rally to beat the Kings 83-78 on Sunday for the Hornets’ first NBA Summer League title.<\/p>\n
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 points and three other players each scored 11 for the Hornets, who ended their Summer League run with a 6-0 record.<\/p>\n
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Isaac Jones had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento (5-1), and Devin Carter scored 13. Nique Clifford, drafted 24th, finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. He entered the game averaging averaging 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds.<\/p>\n
The Kings lost for the first time in three trips to the final. They won titles in 2014 and 2021.<\/p>\n
Knueppel continued his hot play after scoring five points in his opener. He averaged 18.3 points over his final four games.<\/p>\n
The Hornets dominated early, leading by 36-18 in the second quarter. The Kings came back, and Jones twice cut the deficit to a point late \u2014 a follow with 1:17 left and a 3-pointer with 20.3 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n
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But the Hornets closed out the game at the free-throw line, three players making 5 of 6.<\/p>\n
Hornets center James Banks III was ejected with 3:47 left in the third quarter after picking up a flagrant-two foul for an elbow to Sacramento center Dylan Cardwell’s face. Cardwell went down hard and remained on the floor during most of the video review.<\/p>\n
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