The Charlotte Hornets head into the play-in tournament with a wave of momentum, closing their regular season with a convincing 110-96 victory over the New York Knicks. The win was powered by strong performances from LaMelo Ball (19 points) and rookie Kon Knueppel (14 points), but the real story was a historic shooting milestone achieved by the duo.

Ball and Knueppel have etched their names into the NBA record books by matching a feat previously accomplished only by the legendary "Splash Brothers." According to ESPN, they became just the second pair in league history to each sink 270 or more three-pointers in a single season, joining Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who did so in the 2015-16 and 2022-23 campaigns.

This incredible volume from deep wasn't just a shared accomplishment—it was a league-leading one. Knueppel finished the season first in total three-pointers, with Ball ranking a close second, showcasing a level of backcourt shooting prowess that hasn't been seen since Curry and Thompson dominated the rankings.

For the 20-year-old Knueppel, this record significantly bolsters his case for the Rookie of the Year award. However, he faces formidable competition from Dallas Mavericks' phenom Cooper Flagg, the number one overall pick. Flagg has posted multiple explosive scoring performances and broken several rookie records, even surpassing some marks set by a young LeBron James, making the award race one of the most compelling in recent memory.