The TD Garden crowd was in full effect on Sunday afternoon. The New York Knicks were in town for the second time this season, looking to avenge the brutal beatdown they suffered on Opening Night at the hands of the Celtics. Unfortunately for them, the Celtics had other plans.
By half-time, the Celtics were up 64-43, the Knicks completely unable to keep up with Boston on either end of the floor. Kristaps Porzingis shredded their drop coverage and the Celtics’ defense was incredible. But flying under the radar was Luke Kornet, who has been a key, yet underappreciated, cog in Boston’s machine this year.
Sunday afternoon was no different.
Luke Kornet has been amazing for the Celtics
In his second-quarter stint, Kornet grabbed two huge offensive rebounds and converted them into buckets. He was doing all the little things on the floor that may go unnoticed in the box score.
As the half-time buzzer sounded, Joe Mazzulla walked out to half-court to greet Kornet. He yelled something at him and gave him a huge high-five, seemingly thrilled with his efforts on both ends of the court.
Luke Kornet is quickly becoming one of the most underrated players in the NBA pic.twitter.com/OB5rKtH1j0
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) February 10, 2025
For as impactful as Kornet was on the offensive glass, his rim protection on the other end was just as important. Boston played him in a couple of different ways, sometimes guarding Karl-Anthony Towns and sometimes guarding Josh Hart in a help role.
Kornet’s efforts against the Knicks weren’t a one-time occurrence, either. He’s been amazing for Boston all year and, ironically enough, a huge showing in the Celtics’ 131-104 win over the Knicks at MSG earlier this season was another example.
“I feel like Luke Kornet has been key for us,” Al Horford said earlier this month via Bobby Manning of CLNS Media.
Incredible. Al Horford, asked if #Celtics are getting back to themselves, gives some unprompted praise: “I feel like Luke Kornet has been key for us … because of that I feel like all of us are stepping it up a little.” pic.twitter.com/s4xjPsgmDb
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) February 11, 2025
Kornet’s ability to play his role perfectly has been destroying teams around the league. He’s a menace on the offensive glass, one of the most efficient players in basketball, and one of the best rim protectors, too.
Having a guy like that on the bench has been great for the Celtics, and they’ve been able to deploy him in some amazing double-big lineups, too.
Double-big lineups could be a huge X-Factor for the Celtics in the playoffs, and the stats are insane pic.twitter.com/cv9Yq6fwN4
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) February 18, 2025
He gives Joe Mazzulla a lot more options because of how solid he is in so many different areas, and that includes playmaking. Kornet has been great making plays out of the short roll for the Celtics this year, and his connections with Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard, in particular, have thrived.
Kornet has been amazing for the Celtics this season, and he showed off his impact once again against the Knicks on Sunday afternoon.