‘He was really good.’ Collin Sexton shines against former team as Hornets blast Jazz
Offense came early in the Charlotte’s Hornets 126-103 win Sunday evening against the Utah Jazz, building a 29-point lead and blowing out its opponent at Spectrum Center.
Hornets guard Collin Sexton — acquired in June via trade from Utah — scored 10 points and was among six Charlotte players in double figures.
Miles Bridges‘ 29 points powered the offense for head coach Charles Lee‘s squad, and rookie Kon Knueppel poured in 24 points, including a team-best four 3-pointers. Charlotte’s leading scorer, LaMelo Ball, sat out Sunday’s game with an ankle issue.
“One of the things I love about Collin so much is just how coachable he is,” Lee said of Sexton, who also contributed 12 assists. “It’s a new situation, new team, new environment, and it’s been seamless because he just wants to do whatever he can to add to the group and fit in. And so (Sunday), I thought he just played so under control, defensively, he was really good. He just brings a work ethic and attitude of humility to him that’s refreshing.”
An early career night for Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel
The Hornets (3-4, 2-3 Eastern Conference) shot well during the opening stages, with Tre Mann, Sion James, Sexton and Knueppel knocking down 3-pointers. An 11-0 run early in the second quarter helped the home team build a lead as big as 29 points.
While Charlotte had a commanding lead by halftime, its strong play continued. A dunk, 3-point play and buzzer-beating tip-in from Moussa Diabaté — who finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shots — kept the Hornets in control as Utah (2-3, 2-3 Western Conference) trimmed the deficit throughout the second half.
Knueppel, whose 24-point performance sets his career-high through seven NBA games, created opportunities off the ball and found open space. He also grabbed six rebounds, tied for second-most on the team Sunday behind Diabaté’s 12 boards, and led players logging more than 35 minutes on the floor.
“For a player like me who’s maybe lacking in a lot of athletic areas, that stuff is ultra-important, like knowing which way a player tends to drive more,” Knueppel said. “Our coaches do a really good job pointing that out, getting us film, knowing player tendencies, because it’s like the answers to the test. Guy’s a left-hand driver, you close out with the thought that he’s going to drive left, and you’ll stay in front.
“(Sunday’s win) was great. After a three-game slide, getting back in the win column feels awfully good. And hopefully we get it done on Tuesday.”
Former Duke stars continue playing well in Charlotte
James’ 15 points in Sunday’s win also mark his new NBA career-high.
The Duke product found himself matched up against Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who had a 29-point performance, various times throughout the game Sunday. It’s a testament to the work James puts in, Lee said, as he’s earned his coaching staff’s trust by identifying opponents’ tendencies and bringing a relentless physicality to finish possessions.
Acquired via the Sexton trade, former Hornets big man Jusuf Nurkić started for Utah and was held to 3 points in 22 minutes; and center Kyle Filipowski, the former Duke basketball standout, logged 16 minutes and scored 4 points.
“(Knueppel and I) went through the same experience of learning and growing, and the reality is, that’s what pretty much everyone who goes through Duke expects,” James said. “It’s one of the best schools in the world, the best basketball school in the country without question, and it’s just somewhere players grow and grow. I learned a ton there, I know Kon did too, and that really changed everything.
“We always want to protect the home court. We always want to set the tone early. A lot of setting the tone is just doing what we’re supposed to do. It doesn’t always have to be making flashy plays, though that does happen every now and again. A lot of times it’s just boxing out when we’re supposed to, or going to the basket strong and finishing in the paint. Those things set the tone and put the defense on heels.”
What’s next for Charlotte?
The Hornets travel to Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, where they’ll face the Pelicans at 8 p.m. Tuesday, before playing against the Miami Heat on the road Friday night in the NBA Cup group stage. Charlotte returns home to host the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. next Monday at Spectrum Center.
This story was originally published November 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM with the headline "‘He was really good.’ Collin Sexton shines against former team as Hornets blast Jazz."
