Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg became the first teenager to score 49 points in an NBA game as they lost 123-121 against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center.

The 19-year-old beat Clifford Robinson’s previous record of 45 points set in 1980 when playing for the New Jersey Nets against the Detroit Pistons.

Flagg, making his 43rd appearance of the season, also became the youngest player to score at least 40 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, who was room-mates with Flagg at Duke University, also posted impressive numbers.

The 20-year-old scored a career-high 34 points and was successful with eight of his 12 three-pointer attempts – setting a rookie record for Charlotte.

Their combined 83 points was the highest of any opposing rookies in more than 50 years, and they were the first pair of opposing rookies from the same college to each score 30-plus points in the same game.

The Dallas Mavericks sit 12th in the Western Conference after falling to four successive defeats, while the Charlotte Hornets have won five in a row and are 11th in the Eastern Conference.