Luke Kornet stepped into the spotlight on Wednesday night as the Boston Celtics staved off elimination with a dominant Game 5 victory over the New York Knicks, but the reserve big man was quick to shift the focus back to team leadership and mentality.
Kornet, who delivered a career-high seven blocks in the 127-102 win, revealed postgame that he did not know Kristaps Porzingis would miss the second half due to illness until head coach Joe Mazzulla informed him at halftime.
“Joe just told me I was going to start the second half, and then, yeah, just kind of went from there,” Kornet said.
Boston entered the night trailing 3-1 in the series and dealing with the continued absence of Jayson Tatum, who is out for the remainder of the postseason with an Achilles injury.
Kornet said the team leaned on veteran voices to reset mentally following the emotional fallout from Game 4.
“JB and Al kind of spoke and talked to us,” Kornet said. “They did a great job of really just understanding the situation… but also that we had a game to play.”
That message resonated in the locker room, with Kornet emphasizing the importance of playing hard and “representing ourselves well.”
He also acknowledged a message from Tatum ahead of the game, which reminded the team of its goal and the opportunity still in front of them.
Kornet added, “Obviously it’s a situation that none of us hoped to be in, but… you can control how you respond to it.”
On the court, Kornet made a tangible impact in limited minutes, posting 10 points, nine rebounds, and five of his seven blocks in the third quarter alone.
“I feel like it was just trying to make plays. Our season’s on the line,” he said. “Everybody stepped up and we were very connected.”
Asked how he would approach potentially starting moving forward, Kornet maintained his steady approach: “Whatever coach asks me to do, I’m there to do it.”
Reflecting on the night, Kornet expressed gratitude for his role in the win, calling it “really special to be a part of” and noting the deep connection he felt with his teammates in the moment.
While his on-court performance drew media attention, Kornet admitted surprise at being pulled aside for an in-game interview after the third quarter.
“I unfortunately was a little tired and didn’t have my usual wit and charm,” he joked.
As for his rim protection success, Kornet offered a measured take.
“Sometimes it’s weird where it just feels like the plays kind of line up,” he said. “You’re just reacting and it’s just happening.”
He also weighed in on the “hot hand” theory, stating he believes in it, though he admitted that quantifying it for blocks is “getting into the weeds.”
Game 6 is set for Friday at Madison Square Garden, with Boston needing another win to force a decisive Game 7.
