Knueppel scores 21 as Hornets win first NBA Summer League title by holding off the Kings
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.
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.
The Kings lost for the first time in three trips to the final. They won titles in 2014 and 2021.
Knueppel continued his hot play after scoring five points in his opener. He averaged 18.3 points over his final four games.
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 — a follow with 1:17 left and a 3-pointer with 20.3 seconds remaining.
But the Hornets closed out the game at the free-throw line, three players making 5 of 6.
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.
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