The Boston Celtics rove without Jason Tatum and found an unlikely hero in Game 5 against the New York Knicks.
A heroic effort from the Boston Celtics led the team to score their first home victory in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
A 127-102 victory forces game 6, bringing questions to the minds of the New York Knicks, leading 3-2. The New York Knicks fear the prospect of having to return to TD Garden for Game 7.
This was Jason Tatum’s first Celtics match since Achilles’ surgery, with multiple players stepping up.
Derrick White scored 34 points and was saved by 26 people from Jalen Brown, while Luke Corne was the definition of a role player with 10 points and 7 blocks.
NBA insider Brian Windhorst spoke to TD Garden ESPN and described Luke Cornett as the Boston Celtics difference maker.
He said: “I think the turning point in this game was when Jo Matzlla went to Luke Cornett to start the second half.
“Mazzola said he made the decision because Christaps Porzingis, who has been dealing with this upper respiratory tract disorder for months, is unable to breathe and is based on health decisions made as a strategy decision.
“But the decision was made and the strategy made a huge difference.”
Luke Kornet played the best game for the Celtics in Game 5. His shot map shows how he scored in all five efforts close to Rim.
Kornet had nine rebounds and was +20 in court time, but had seven blocks overall, five of which came in the third quarter.
Windhorst explained: “Cornett said he was advised to come out at halftime and prepare to start.
“He said, sometimes you have a hot hand when you shoot, and sometimes you have a hot hand when you’re blocking a shot. You see the ball well and things come in your way. He said it happened, and it was a big moment.”
He added that Cornett has one regret in relation to the attention his impactful performance brought to the team.
Windhorst said: “When I got off the court at the end of the third quarter, he was stunned and asked to conduct interviews during the quarter. He was tired and he was his only regret.
Cornett’s regret is good considering the Celtics were eliminated in Game 5 loss.