CLE 118, CHA 113: Kon Knueppel's 55 ESPN FP Eruption
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate · Houston Rockets fan
Cavaliers Steal One in Charlotte, But The Real Story Is Jarrett Allen's Dominance
Final: Cavaliers 118, Hornets 113
Yo, this game was closer than it needed to be. Cleveland had the Hornets on the ropes but let Charlotte hang around the entire second half. Still, a W is a W, and there are some serious fantasy lessons here, especially if you've got the right guys on your squad.
Let me hit you with the top performers first:
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrett Allen | 52.0 | 47.8 | 26/14/2 | 14.9/8.4/2.0 | +11.1 |
| Kon Knueppel | 55.0 | 46.2 | 33/6/2 | 19.1/5.5/3.5 | +13.9 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 42.0 | 44.6 | 32/3/4 | 28.8/4.4/5.9 | +3.2 |
| James Harden | 38.0 | 35.8 | 18/4/8 | 24.7/4.8/8.2 | -6.7 |
| Sion James | 42.0 | 34.7 | 5/6/7 | 5.6/3.5/2.0 | -0.6 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 34.0 | 32.1 | 12/13/1 | 8.4/6.1/0.7 | +3.6 |
| LaMelo Ball | 21.0 | 27.4 | 18/2/6 | 19.1/4.8/7.3 | -1.1 |
| Brandon Miller | 19.0 | 24.4 | 18/2/4 | 20.5/4.7/3.4 | -2.5 |
| Josh Green | 26.0 | 22.4 | 11/2/2 | 4.7/1.9/1.0 | +6.3 |
| Dennis Schröder | 22.0 | 19.5 | 8/0/3 | 12.2/2.9/5.0 | -4.2 |
Jarrett Allen Just Reminded Everyone He's A Problem
Jarrett Allen went absolutely stupid on 11-15 shooting. 26 points and 14 rebounds in 32 minutes? That's not a fluke, that's him saying "I'm awake now." He's up +11.1 on his season scoring average and +5.6 on boards. The man picked the right time to go off because Cleveland needed that anchor down low.
Real talk, Allen is 92.1% owned already, so unless you're in some tiny league, you don't have the chance to grab him. But if you got him early in the season and doubted, tonight's a reminder why you hold tight. He's been solid all year, but nights like this prove he can carry a game when Evan Mobley isn't available. Speaking of which, Mobley missing this one opened the whole paint for Allen. That's the floor situation right there.
Kon Knueppel Went Nuclear, But Is This Real?
Kon Knueppel dropped 33 on 11-20 shooting with seven threes. +13.9 points above his season average. Okay, so here's the thing, and I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade but this is fantasy basketball and we gotta be honest. Knueppel's averaging 19.1 PPG, so 33 is great but not completely out of character for him when he gets hot. The 7-for-7 from three volume? That's what's got people talking.
The issue is Knueppel plays in Charlotte's rotations that aren't always stable. He got 37 minutes tonight, which is solid, but his usage can fluctuate. If you're thinking about buying low on him or trading for him, tonight proved he can catch fire, but don't expect 33 every night. That said, if he's on the wire in your league and available, he's worth a look. He's basically at the top of the Hornets depth chart when the shot's falling.
Donovan Mitchell Did His Thing, But Quietly
Donovan Mitchell put up 32 points on 9-22 shooting, but here's where the efficiency matters. He's usually dropping 28.8 per game, so +3.2 isn't some explosion. He went 12-13 from the free throw line though, which kept him afloat despite the mediocre field goal percentage. That's the All-NBA player doing what he does, hitting enough shots and getting to the line. Nothing flashy, just effective. The dude's locked in for fantasy purposes. You start him every night and get consistent production.
James Harden Came Down To Earth
James Harden was -6.7 from his season average, hitting 6-14 from the field. That's not a disaster but it's the kind of game where the Beard doesn't carry. He got his assists (8), so he's still facilitating, but on a night when Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen had to do most of the heavy lifting, Harden got quiet. Sometimes that's just basketball. The All-NBA Second Team selection can't go off every night. Still a hold, still a start, but this is why you need depth.
The Hornets Role Players Stepped Up (Sort Of)
Sion James came out of nowhere with a solid night, 5/6/7 with three steals. That's interesting because he's averaging 5.6 PPG, so the scoring didn't really exceed expectations, but the rebounds and steals were a nice bonus. He played 29 minutes, which is above his usual workload, so if Miles Bridges was out or limited, that could explain the bump. Still, this is more of a "hey, solid role player game" than a breakout.
LaMelo Ball shot 4-17 but made up for it going 8-8 from the line. 18 points, 6 assists. He's -1.1 from his season average, so basically right in line. Not great efficiency, but he kept Charlotte in it. For a guy that's 99.3% owned, you need these kinds of performances to stay afloat. He won't always shoot like that, but the free throws kept him relevant tonight.
Ryan Kalkbrenner was the Hornets' other big story, going 5-7 for 12 points and 13 rebounds. That's +6.9 boards above his average, which is wild. 35 minutes on the floor. If Kalkbrenner's getting that kind of playing time, he's worth monitoring in deeper leagues. The big man can rebound and he's not costing you free throws.
The Bottom Line
Cleveland got the win because Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell showed up. The Hornets kept it close because Kon Knueppel went off and LaMelo Ball did just enough. This is a game where the right guys went off at the right time, not some crazy breakthrough performance from anyone unexpected.
If you've got Mitchell or Allen, you're happy. If you've got Knueppel, tonight was a win but don't get too hyped. If you've got Harden, you probably broke even after a rough shooting night. And if you grabbed Kalkbrenner on waivers like I suggested last week, that rebound line is exactly what we're looking for in a deeper league.