Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht turned heads with a career-high 37-point performance in the team’s 124-118 NBA Cup victory over the Utah Jazz.
Knecht lit up the scoreboard, nailing 9-of-12 three-pointers and hitting 12 of 16 field goals, playing a key role in extending the Lakers’ win streak to six games.
Lakers head coach and former sharpshooter JJ Redick praised Knecht’s shooting ability after the game. “You watch a guy in shooting drills, you watch a guy in small group games, it’s obvious that he’s the shot-maker,” Redick said. “He was phenomenal tonight.”
Redick, who has extensive experience as a shooter himself, also gave credit to D’Angelo Russell for facilitating Knecht’s performance.
“We talked during the free-throw, just get to this and DK is going to be open. DLo hit him two or three times in a row,” Redick said. He also highlighted Russell’s all-around contributions, noting his great defense, including a key block on John Collins.
Knecht’s scorching shooting performance tied the NBA rookie record for most three-pointers in a game with nine, a feat previously achieved by Rodrigue Beaubois, Yogi Ferrell, and Utah’s own Keyonte George.
In addition to Knecht’s 37 points, LeBron James recorded 26 points and 12 assists, while Anthony Davis contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 17 points, further aiding the Lakers’ offensive attack.
Despite a strong fourth-quarter push from Utah, which outscored Los Angeles 43-31, the Jazz couldn’t close the gap.
Knecht, who joined the starting lineup four games ago, has been on fire, averaging 24.3 points per game during that stretch. His hot shooting has provided a critical offensive spark for the Lakers, complementing the playmaking of James and the dominant presence of Davis.
The 124-118 victory marked another milestone for the Lakers, who now sit at 10-4 on the season, with their sixth consecutive win firmly establishing them as one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
