LeBron James and Anthony Davis passed along a simple message to their rookie teammate on Thursday night with the Lakers needed a run late in the fourth quarter.
Dalton Knecht took the assignment and aced it.
“Bron and AD said, ‘It’s time,’ so it was just time to go take over,” Knecht said to reporters after the game via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Knecht certainly took over.
The former Vol recorded 35 points in the Lakers overtime win and scored 20 straight points for Los Angeles across the end of the fourth quarter and overtime. Knecht tallied 20 of the Lakers’ final 22 points in the game as Los Angeles won by six points over the Suns.
Knecht knocked down 8-of-13 from behind the arc and 7-of-8 free throws as he continued to trust his shot late in the game. Knecht also added seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist on the night.
Here’s TWENTY STRAIGHT POINTS from Dalton Knecht in the 4Q/OT to lead the @Lakers to the #NBAPreseason win! 😈 pic.twitter.com/flBoBAXkvm
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2024
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Knecht upped his preseason scoring average to 18 PPG after his 35-point performance on Thursday, but it’s how he did it that’s perhaps more valuable to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and J.J. Redick. Knecht showed that he can be a clutch performer at the next level.
One of the clear traits from Dalton Knecht’s lone season at Tennessee was that he was built for the spotlight. Knecht didn’t shy away from late-game shots and understood when he needed to put his team on his back.
That’s exactly what the rookie wing showed on Thursday night – a willingness to put his team on his back and a lack of fear from playing under the lights in an overtime situation.
