Luke Kornette shined as one in every of Boston’s backup stars this week with their common starters sidelined, however the Celtics nonetheless simply defeated Miami on Monday evening.
Harm-plagued Celtics dominate Miami
This week’s recreation towards the Warmth was with out quite a lot of injured Celtics, with Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Sam Hauser additionally absent for varied causes.
Luke Cornett led Boston’s protection with a career-high six blocks in Monday’s 108-89 win within the absence of his teammates. Holding Miami to only 89 factors was Boston’s greatest defensive efficiency of the NBA season so far.
Luke Cornett tied a profession excessive with 6 blocks tonight ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/atWB34JGrt
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) December 3, 2024
After the sport, Cornette’s exhausting work was observed by head coach Joe Mazzula, and Boston’s head coach gave a glowing report on his huge man after the sport.
“So when he (Cornet) performs at a bodily degree on each ends of the ground, our staff is completely different,” Mazzulla stated. “And I feel his two largest strengths are his physicality and rim safety when he’s at his greatest, and his screening and completely different coverages.
“And I feel he noticed each of these issues all through the sport and he simply has to maintain doing that. However when he performs at a excessive degree, we’re a unique staff and we do issues in a different way. I can.”
Jaylen Brown was additionally on the harm report earlier than the Warmth win, however performed by the harm and led all scorers with 29 factors. Final yr’s Finals MVP was additionally impressed with Cornet’s profession recreation.
“Luke has been a fantastic teammate since he is been right here, and it doesn’t matter what you ask of him, he is prepared to do it. He places within the work each evening. He is aware of the sport nicely. There may be.
“If Luke performs nicely, I feel we’ll be a good higher staff.”
Luke Cornette talks about Derrick White’s shot blocking:
“He and I each know a factor or two about rejection.” pic.twitter.com/23Mmcm9wnK
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) December 3, 2024
Cornette has seen his enjoying time decline over the previous few years in Boston, however he’s nonetheless a mainstay on the staff’s roster on nights like Monday when the starter isn’t obtainable.
