In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday night, Dalton Knecht made history by tying the NBA’s single-game rookie record with nine 3-pointers while scoring a personal best of 37 points. His remarkable performance led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz, marking the team’s sixth consecutive win.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis had significant contributions to the win, each scoring 26 points, with James also providing 12 assists. Austin Reaves added 17 points, showcasing the offensive depth of the defending NBA champions. The Lakers improved to a perfect 7-0 at home and maintained a strong start with a 2-0 record in group play this season. This impressive streak is the Lakers’ best since February 2021, shortly after their championship success in the NBA bubble.
For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen led the scoring with 25 points, but the team struggled, suffering their third straight defeat. Keyonte George added 18 points, with 10 coming in a strong fourth quarter, while Collin Sexton contributed 19 points, showing some late-game resilience. However, recent challenges for the Jazz included John Collins receiving a flagrant foul for an ill-advised strike against Anthony Davis.
Knecht’s standout moment came in the third quarter, where he delivered an electrifying performance, draining four consecutive 3-pointers and scoring 21 points in that quarter alone. His ninth successful shot from beyond the arc gave the Lakers a commanding 25-point lead early in the final quarter, a cushion they nearly relinquished as Utah mounted a late comeback.
Knecht’s nine 3-pointers tied him with Rodrigue Beaubois, Yogi Ferrell, and Keyonte George for the most three-point shots made by a rookie in a single game, highlighting his explosive impact since being elevated to the starting lineup four games ago, where he has averaged 24.3 points per game.
Looking ahead, the Jazz face the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, aiming to reverse their recent trend, while the Lakers will host the Orlando Magic in what promises to be another exciting game.
This victory not only highlights Knecht’s rising star power but also renews hope for the Lakers as they advance through the season, looking to clinch another title.