CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball have one thing in widespread with the Splash Brothers.

The backcourt duo of the Hornets are the primary teammates to complete 1-2 within the NBA in 3-pointers since Golden State guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Now they’re hoping to assist Charlotte snap a 10-year playoff drought, the longest in league historical past.

After shattering the NBA rookie file for 3s in a season, Knueppel went on to guide the league with 273 whereas taking pictures 42.5% from past the arc.

Ball was proper behind with 272 made on 36.8% taking pictures.

“I believe it’s fairly cool — they will need to have an awesome coach that permits them to shoot that many 3s,” quipped Charlotte coach Charles Lee.

All kidding apart, the Hornets lastly appear to have discovered an identification on offense beneath Lee and appear headed in the suitable route after practically a decade of floundering close to the underside of the Jap Convention.

You possibly can wager the 3s will probably be flying Tuesday night time when the Hornets host the Miami Warmth within the 9 vs. 10 NBA play-in event recreation — the primary postseason dwelling recreation for Charlotte in a decade.

To achieve an precise playoff sequence for the primary time since 2015-16, the Hornets might want to beat the Warmth after which defeat the loser of the 7-8 matchup between Philadelphia and Orlando.

Knueppel has been the shot within the arm the Hornets franchise wanted.

He was named Jap Convention Rookie of the Month 4 occasions and leads all first-year gamers with 36 20-point video games. He handed six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan for the NBA rookie file for many video games with 20-plus factors on 65% true taking pictures with 27.

“Kon is like my brother for actual, and I like enjoying with him,” Ball stated. “He’s such an awesome shooter it makes our complete group higher the best way we play off one another.”

They’re totally different kind of gamers, Ball and Knueppel.

Ball likes to create separation with a step-back 3 and his shot is very unorthodox, typically taking pictures off one foot. Knueppel has a textbook jumper that nearly by no means adjustments from shot to shot, and whereas he is finest often known as being a catch-and-shoot participant, he frequently makes use of a aspect dribble to flee oncoming defenders and create open seems to be for himself.

But one way or the other they’ve meshed on the ground.

Knueppel entered the ultimate regular-season recreation three 3s forward of Ball, however the level guard practically caught him when he hit 5 3s within the finale.

Had Ball taken and made one other 3 within the fourth quarter, he might have shared the league lead with Knueppel.

“Effectively, we had been passing one another beauty and attempting to make the suitable reads,” Knueppel stated of the group’s win in opposition to the New York Knicks. “It wasn’t like anyone was entering into there jacking (up photographs). We had been passing forwards and backwards attempting to make the suitable play. It simply so occurred to be me.”

Lee stated that is typical of what he has seen all season lengthy from his group — unselfish basketball.

“These two guys, they work so arduous on their craft,” Lee stated. “One factor I like is our group’s unselfishness to create these seems to be for them with the drives and kicks. And it’s spectacular that our guards and our bigs are setting such nice seems to be to get these guys clear seems to be.”

The Hornets aren’t only a two-man present.

Brandon Miller is one other high-end shooter with 204 3s this season and might need been proper there with Knueppel and Ball had he not missed 17 video games resulting from damage. Miles Bridges can even shoot the three, though he is finest recognized extra for his capability to get to the basket and his athleticism in ending off alley-oops on the break.

After which there’s Coby White, who has been an enormous addition coming off the bench after being acquired in a midseason cope with the Chicago Bulls.

He has 43 3-pointers in 21 video games with the Hornets.

And remember undersized middle Moussa Diabate, who creates open 3s by kicking the ball outdoors after an offensive rebound.

Now it is time to discover out if all of these 3-pointers can translate into playoff wins because it as soon as did for the Splash Brothers.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA