Knueppel's Season Debut Lasts Six Minutes as Hornets' Slide Hits Five

Kon Knueppel waited eight games for his season to start. It lasted five minutes and 51 seconds. The Charlotte Hornets forward, sidelined since training camp by a left hamstring strain, finally took the floor on Wednesday night at Barclays Center — and was gone before the first quarter ended. Knueppel scored three points, all from the free-throw line, committed two turnovers and did not attempt a field goal before leaving with soreness in his left leg. He did not return, and Hornets coach Charles Lee had no update on his condition after the game. It was a cruel blow for a player who led the NBA in three-pointers last season and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Charlotte had eased him back after he practised without limitations earlier in the week, but the same leg flared up almost immediately, dribbling the ball off his ankle before he checked out limping. The night only got worse for the Hornets. Brooklyn, 1-6 coming in, overturned a seven-point half-time deficit behind Michael Porter Jr.'s 26 points and 10 rebounds and Julius Randle's 22, outscoring Charlotte 34-24 in the fourth quarter to win 114-104. It was the Nets' first home win of the season and only their second victory overall. Naz Reid led Charlotte with 28 points and nine rebounds, but the Hornets dropped their fifth straight game to fall to 3-6. They host the Boston Celtics on Friday in NBA Cup group play, with Knueppel's availability now in doubt again.