Dalton Knecht delivered the performance of a lifetime, sharing with Zach Randolph the most three-pointers in an NBA game by a rookie-nine triples.
His 37-point outburst propelled the Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz. Knecht shot off the map with an incredible 21 points in the last 3:29 of the third quarter, doubling the Lakers lead and electrifying the Crypto.com Arena. Even JJ Redick was impressed with his recent performance.
Unstoppable Third-Quarter Flurry
In a forgettable stretch, Knecht hit four consecutive three-pointers, three of which came off assists from D'Angelo Russell. The crowd roared after each shot, and Knecht capped the run with that old Michael Jordan act, shrugging toward the crowd, reflecting on his success and the magnitude of the moment.
He had finished the game 12-for-16 from the field and 9-for-12 beyond the arc for five rebounds and one steal.
Lakers Coach Has Huge Respect For the Rising Rookie
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Knecht, saying his fearlessness and shooting are a "real weapon" that energizes the team.
"I'm not concerned at all with Dalton in terms of meeting the moment," Redick said. "Knecht did it in his 14th as a pro. "He's fearless. ... It's a real weapon for our group beyond just the score. It's a weapon that energizes us."
For reference, Redick hit nine 3s in his tenure-just once in his 940 career games.
Knecht Joins Company of Several NBA Players
Knecht's nine three-pointers tied the rookie single-game record, which is shared by Keyonte George, Yogi Ferrell, and Rodrigue Beaubois.
To his credit, he also entered a very select club of Laker players-Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and D'Angelo Russell-with this achievement. His feat is even more impressive as he accomplished it in just his 14th professional game.
Teammates High Praise
Anthony Davis, scoring 26 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, praised Knecht's shooting skills, saying that he should take as many attempts as possible.
Austin Reaves also echoed similar words, stating that Knecht's sensational games would soon become a norm.
"They didn't 'find' DK," LeBron James, who scored 26 points and 12 assists said. "The other 16 teams f---ed it up. Did anybody watch him? S---. They just didn't f--- it up. You don't 'find' an SEC player of the year."
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