New issue Knicks require addressing in Game 6 with Luke Kornet as focus
In the wake of Jayson Tatum's absence, the Celtics owe a debt of gratitude to their unsung heroes. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown gave it their all, but no one could have predicted the meteoric rise of the reimagined Luke Kornet.
This wasn't the Kornet the Knicks were accustomed to during his time with them. Not this Kornet, not even close.
This Game 5 Kornet was a beast. He decimated the Knicks in their crushing 127-102 loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. His stat line? A perfect 5-of-5 from the field for 10 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 7 blocks over the course of 26 minutes off the bench. He wasn't just a match for Karl-Anthony Towns - he outshone him. He outmuscled the Knicks in the paint.
Korner occupied a coveted spot in NBA history following his electrifying performance. He became the first player to log a playoff game with at least 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 blocks on a 100% shooting rate.
His seven blocks tied for the second-most in Celtics playoff history.
"Kornet was a monster," Brown said after the game. "On both ends, he was a beast. That's the kind of performances we need in the playoffs."
Kornet's breakout showing came as Kristaps Porzingis struggled and was absent from the second half. He's still battling his undisclosed illness, and Mazzulla revealed after the game that Porzingis "couldn't breathe" and was only available in a dire emergency for the second half.
Porzingis had a brief 12-minute stint, tallying a single point and missing all field goal attempts. Kornet's 26 minutes of action were a season high due to Porzingis' prolonged absence.
As Porzingis remains uncertain, Mazzulla may be compelled to station Kornet as a starter instead.
Kornet anchored the Celtics' third quarter, a period in which they outscored the Knicks 32-17. For the Knicks, Kornet has become a larger concern than Porzingis.
"I was just trying to do my job," Kornet said after the game. "In critical situations like this, it's about bringing energy and making plays. That's what I've been all about throughout this year and my entire Celtics tenure."
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Discover more newslettersThe Celtics stationed Kornet to guard Josh Hart, with Jrue Holiday covering Karl-Anthony Towns. This tactic afforded Kornet the freedom to patrol the paint as a floating help defender, particularly on Jalen Brunson and Towns. It was a strategy reminiscent of the one used by the Pistons against the Knicks with Jalen Duren.
It paid off in a big way for the Celtics.
"He was fantastic on both ends," Mazzulla said. "He protected the rim effectively, defended without fouling, and was exceptional on the rebounding front - 9 rebounds with 2 offensive ones. He made a number of significant plays for us."
The Celtics' reimagined Luke Kornet rose meteorically in Game 5, decimating the Knicks during their crushing 127-102 loss. Korner's stat line was impressive, with a perfect 5-of-5 shooting for 10 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 7 blocks over 26 minutes off the bench. His performance was so remarkable that he became the first player to log a playoff game with at least 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 blocks on a 100% shooting rate.
