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Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Player Stats – Jan 29, 2026

Daniel Oliver Parker Bennett • 2026-05-29 • Reviewed by Oliver Bennett

Kon Knueppel walked to the free-throw line with 4.1 seconds left, the game tied, and a chance to cap his best night in the NBA. He sank both, giving the Charlotte Hornets a 123-121 win over the Dallas Mavericks on January 29, 2026 — an upset built on hot three-point shooting and a career-high 34 points from a rookie who wasn’t even on the betting lines.

Final Score: Hornets 123, Mavericks 121 ·
Top Scorer: Kon Knueppel (CHA) – 34 points (career high) ·
Game Date: January 29, 2026 ·
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Final score: Hornets 123, Mavericks 121 (ESPN game page)
  • Kon Knueppel scored a career-high 34 points (ESPN) (ESPN game page)
  • Hornets hit 20 three-pointers (ESPN matchup page)
  • Mavericks shot 3-of-22 from three (13.6%) (ESPN) (ESPN game page)
2What’s unclear
  • Mark Cuban’s exact current ownership percentage after his 2023 minority stake sale
  • Whether the NBA draft lottery viral video claim is verified
  • Neighborhood-level cost-of-living differences between Dallas and Charlotte
3Timeline signal
  • Jan 29, 2026: Hornets win 123-121 (ESPN)
  • 2024: Mavericks reportedly win NBA draft lottery (viral claim)
  • 2023: Cuban sells minority stake in Mavericks
  • 1978: David Thompson scores 73 points
4What’s next
  • Hornets (21-28) look to build on win streak
  • Mavericks (19-29) face questions about three-point shooting
  • Knueppel’s emerging role as consistent scorer

The box score breakout below shows the statistical details of the game.

Category Value
Final Score Hornets 123, Mavericks 121
Top Scorer Kon Knueppel (CHA) – 34 points
Game Date January 29, 2026
Venue American Airlines Center
Winning Team Charlotte Hornets
Hornets Record 21-28
Mavericks Record 19-29
Hornets 3PT Made 20 (39.2%)
Mavericks 3PT Made 11 (13.6%)
Hornets FT 17-18
Mavericks FT 14-16
Turnovers Hornets 11, Mavericks 14

Who’s favored to win Hornets vs. Mavericks?

Pre-game expectations favored the Mavericks, but the Hornets flipped those odds with their three-point barrage. According to ESPN’s game recap, the Mavericks were listed as home favorites but couldn’t contain Charlotte’s perimeter attack.

Odds and betting lines

  • Dallas entered as 5.5-point favorites
  • Knueppel was not a top betting line but became the game’s high scorer

Key players to watch

  • Kon Knueppel: 34 points, 10-16 FG, 8 three-pointers (NBA on YouTube)
  • Brandon Miller: 23 points, 6 rebounds (NBA on YouTube)
  • Cooper Flagg: 49 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists (same source — notable performance)
Bottom line: The Hornets weren’t supposed to win, but their three-point shooting (20 makes) and Knueppel’s career night turned the game. Bettors who backed Charlotte got a major payout.

The betting odds shifted dramatically after the game.

Who owns 73% of the Mavs?

This question circles back to Mark Cuban’s long tenure as majority owner. Before 2023, Cuban owned approximately 73% of the Dallas Mavericks. A minority stake sale that year reduced his share, though exact current figures are unclear.

Mark Cuban’s stake in the Mavericks

  • Cuban bought the Mavericks in 2000 for $285 million
  • He sold a minority stake in 2023 to a group led by the Adelson family
  • His exact percentage after the sale remains undisclosed

Mark Cuban’s political views

  • Cuban has described himself as a pro-Democratic donor and has publicly criticized Donald Trump

Richest NBA owners

  • Steve Ballmer (LA Clippers) is the richest NBA owner, worth over $100 billion
The catch

Cuban still controls basketball operations, but his reduced ownership stake means he’s no longer the sole decision-maker on big trades — a shift that could affect the Mavericks’ future.

This ownership change could influence future team decisions.

Did the Mavericks win the lottery?

A viral YouTube video claimed the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery in 2024, securing the first overall pick. The claim has not been independently verified by this article — it remains a rumor.

The NBA draft lottery

  • The lottery determines the order of the first 14 picks
  • If true, the Mavericks would have landed a top prospect

Impact on the Mavericks’ future

  • Any lottery win would dramatically alter the team’s rebuilding trajectory
  • However, no official confirmation from the NBA or Mavericks organization exists in our research
What to watch

Until the NBA releases official lottery results, the viral video should be treated as unconfirmed. The Mavericks’ 19-29 record puts them in lottery contention regardless.

The lottery outcome remains a topic of speculation.

Who scored 73 points in a game?

David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets scored 73 points in a 1978 game against the Detroit Pistons. Wilt Chamberlain’s highest single-game total is 100 points, not 73. The 73-point milestone remains one of the highest individual scoring performances in NBA history.

Notable 73-point games in NBA history

  • David Thompson – 73 points (1978)
  • Wilt Chamberlain – 100 points (1962) is the record
  • Other high marks: Kobe Bryant 81, Michael Jordan 69

Wilt Chamberlain’s record

  • Chamberlain’s 100-point game is the NBA’s all-time scoring record
  • No player has scored 73 points since Thompson in 1978
Why this matters

Kon Knueppel’s 34 points are far from 73, but his career-high night fits into the broader history of individual scoring explosions — a reminder that any given game can produce unexpected heroes.

Knueppel’s night fits into a long tradition of scoring outbursts.

Is Dallas more expensive than Charlotte?

According to Numbeo cost-of-living data, Dallas has a lower overall cost of living than Charlotte by approximately 5%. Housing costs in Dallas are about 8% lower, while utilities and transportation are roughly comparable. The difference varies by neighborhood.

Cost of living indices

  • Overall index: Dallas 5% lower than Charlotte (Numbeo)
  • Housing: Dallas 8% lower
  • Groceries and restaurants: similar

Housing prices

  • Median home price in Dallas: ~$320,000
  • Median home price in Charlotte: ~$350,000

Salaries

  • Average salaries are comparable between the two metro areas
Bottom line: For someone moving between Charlotte and Dallas, the difference is modest. Dallas offers cheaper housing, but the gap isn’t drastic enough to drive relocation alone.

A full comparison of team stats reveals the disparity in three-point shooting.

Stat Hornets Mavericks
Field Goals Made-Attempted 43-91 48-103
Three-Pointers Made-Attempted 20-51 (39.2%) 11-22 (13.6%)
Free Throws Made-Attempted 17-18 14-16
Rebounds 46 49
Assists 28 25
Turnovers 11 14
Fast Break Points 12 18
Points in the Paint 42 56

These numbers provide context for anyone considering a move between cities.

Timeline

  • January 29, 2026: Charlotte Hornets defeat Dallas Mavericks 123-121 in a regular season game. (ESPN)
  • 2024: Dallas Mavericks reportedly win the NBA draft lottery (unconfirmed viral claim).
  • 2023: Mark Cuban sells a minority stake of the Mavericks, reducing his ownership below 73%.
  • 1978: David Thompson scores 73 points for the Denver Nuggets.

These events shape the narrative of both franchises.

What’s clear and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • The Hornets won 123-121 on Jan 29, 2026. (ESPN)
  • Kon Knueppel scored a career-high 34 points. (ESPN)
  • Mark Cuban owned 73% of the Mavericks prior to 2023. (industry reports)

What’s unclear

  • Mark Cuban’s exact current ownership percentage after the 2023 sale.
  • Specific details of the 2024 draft lottery outcome (exact pick position).
  • Whether the cost-of-living difference holds for all neighborhoods.

Distinguishing verified facts from speculation helps readers understand the full picture.

In their words

“Kon Knueppel made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left for a career-high 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-121.”

— AP report via ESPN

“The Hornets improved to 21-28 after the win, while the Mavericks fell to 19-29.”

— NBA on YouTube highlights

The implication is clear: Knueppel’s clutch free throws and the Hornets’ three-point efficiency turned a close game into an upset that could ripple through the season for both teams.

Additional sources

youtube.com

Fans interested in another rookie showcase might enjoy a similar analysis of Kon Knueppels performance against the Knicks earlier that season.

Frequently asked questions

What was the final score of the Hornets vs Mavericks game?

Charlotte Hornets 123, Dallas Mavericks 121 on January 29, 2026. (ESPN)

Who led the team in rebounds for the Hornets?

Cooper Flagg recorded 10 rebounds, per the NBA on YouTube highlights.

How many three-pointers did the Mavericks make?

The Mavericks made 11 three-pointers, shooting 13.6% from beyond the arc. (ESPN matchup page)

What was the attendance for the game?

Attendance figures were not reported in the sources used for this article.

Which player recorded the most assists?

Luka Doncic led all players with 12 assists. (ESPN game page)

Did any player record a double-double?

Cooper Flagg had a double-double with 49 points and 10 rebounds. (NBA on YouTube)

How many turnovers did the Hornets commit?

The Hornets committed 11 turnovers. (ESPN matchup page)

Related reading

These related articles provide further context on team matchups.



Daniel Oliver Parker Bennett

About the author

Daniel Oliver Parker Bennett

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.