Luke Kornet Emerges With An Impactful 7 Block Performance

In the Boston Celtics’ 127-102 win in Game 5, Luke Kornet had a huge performance off the bench to keep their season alive. He had 10 points and 9 rebounds, and his biggest contributions came on the defensive end. Kornet finished with an astounding 7 blocks.

His impact completely changed the game in the third quarter, where Boston pulled away after a tight first half. With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely, the Celtics must turn to players like Luke Kornet to stay competitive against the New York Knicks, who lead the series 3-2. His performance could lead to more minutes in Game 6.

Luke Kornet’s Impact

Luke Kornet’s performance came as a surprise to many. He hadn’t gotten this much playing time throughout the series, but after this game, maybe he should. On offense, Kornet does not demand much. Despite showing the ability to shoot in the past, almost all of his field goal attempts come from under the basket. If he ever gets the ball away from the basket, he is passing or screening to get someone else open. In Game 5, he shot 5-of-5 from the field, and all of his buckets were dunks or layups. He is mainly a putback and lob threat, and a couple of his Game 5 alley-oops drew adoration from the TD Garden crowd.

However, one of Luke Kornet’s best attributes is his hustle. Standing at 7’1” with long arms, he can be a bit uncoordinated and does not have the pure strength of a player like Mitchell Robinson, but he will fight. Kornet battles for rebounds and grabbed nine of them against the Knicks. Also, if he cannot secure a rebound, he uses his length to tap the ball to a teammate who can. His size makes him an effective defender as well. When Kristaps Porzingis was benched for the second half, Kornet made a huge impact on the interior defense.

When Jalen Brunson or Josh Hart drove inside, Luke Kornet held his own and swatted their shots back. He even made efforts to get out on the perimeter, blocking a corner three from Hart and barking with the crowd. His defense was an integral turning point that led to Boston building their lead.

The Celtics Center Rotation

One intriguing aspect of Luke Kornet’s performance will be Boston’s center rotation moving forward. The Celtics cannot afford to lose another game, or their season will be over. With Tatum out, most fans expected the series to end in Game 5, but now they enter Game 6 and must adjust. In Game 5, Porzingis started at center and was a liability. He’s been battling a virus that caused him to miss time in the regular season and has been impacted in the second round of the playoffs.

In Game 5, Porzingis played just 12 minutes with 1 point on 0-of-3 shooting. He had a plus-minus of -12. Meanwhile, Luke Kornet’s plus-minus was +20. This has happened throughout the New York series. In Game 2, Kornet was a +11 and Porzingis was a -9. Until Game 5, Porzingis got significantly more minutes, despite poor shooting, rebounding, and interior defense. In the series, Porzingis has shot 23.8% from the field and 14.3% from three. Whether it is the virus affecting him or a slump, he has not been positive for Boston. So, with their backs against the wall, Luke Kornet may be the better, more reliable option.

Final Thoughts

Luke Kornet had an invigorating performance in Game 5, helping the Celtics extend the series to 3-2. They play Game 6 in Madison Square Garden on Friday, where they will fight to keep their season alive. The playing time Kornet receives will be something to watch as the Knicks try to close them out.