If you blinked during the third quarter of Game 5, chances are you missed Luke freakin’ Kornet channeling his inner Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, and Gandalf the Grey simultaneously — because nothing, and I mean nothing, was getting past him. The Celtics backup big man decided TD Garden was his personal fortress and shouted “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” every time the Knicks dared to enter the paint.
Yes, Luke Kornet — the dude most casuals think is a bench mob meme — just went nuclear on national TV, turning a do-or-die game into his personal NBA history book.
Let’s start with the mind-bending stat that’s got NBA historians rubbing their eyes. Luke Kornet is now only the 4th center in NBA history to come off the bench and block five shots in a single playoff quarter. That’s 78 years of league action, thousands of playoff games, and only four dudes have pulled this off. And now Luke “The Blocksmith” Kornet is on that exclusive list.
But wait — there’s more.
His five blocks in the third quarter alone weren’t just impressive, they were record-setting. No player has ever swatted that many shots in a playoff quarter coming off the pine. EVER. And Kornet didn’t stop there — he ended the game with 7 blocks, 10 points, 9 rebounds, and a plus-minus of +20 in just 25 minutes. He went 5-for-5 from the field too, casually putting up a stat line that screamed “Put some respect on my name!”
Celtics Channel Their Inner Avengers
Now, you might’ve heard: Jayson Tatum’s out for the rest of the playoffs with a torn Achilles. Brutal news. Celtics fans everywhere were preparing to light candles and whisper prayers to Larry Bird. But instead, the squad decided to turn the TD Garden into a Marvel crossover event. With Kornet blocking everything but WiFi signals, Derrick White dropped 34 points, Jaylen Brown had 26 points and 12 assists, and Boston collectively shot 52.4% from the field and nearly 45% from three.
That third quarter? Oh, baby. Boston blew the doors off the Knicks. They outscored them 32-17, got to the line 18 times, and looked like a team that hadn’t just lost their best player — but had unlocked their hidden final form. Kornet even got the TNT treatment, with Reggie Miller hilariously comparing him to Hakeem Olajuwon. Somewhere, Celtics fans were like, “Say less.”
The Knicks? Uh… yikes.
They shot 35.8% from the field — which is lower than some people’s phone battery at midnight — and let’s just say their stars forgot to show up to the party. OG Anunoby shot 1-of-12 and might’ve hit more air than a malfunctioning Dyson. Karl-Anthony Towns was fine on paper with 19 points, but defensively? Kornet had him in a chokehold. And Jalen Brunson, who’s been the Knicks’ hero all series, fouled out early in the fourth after scoring 22 on 41% shooting. Game over.
Meanwhile, Josh Hart did his best Wolverine impression after taking an elbow to the face from Kornet, bleeding like it was an episode of WWE Raw. But credit to Hart — he stayed in, drained free throws, and finished with 24 points. Respect.
Look — Celtics fans expected big games from Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. But Luke Kornet? This man went from being the backup’s backup to being the hero of Game 5. It was the kind of glow-up that would make Cinderella jealous. Remember when Kornet was mostly known for that weird closeout contest where he jumps straight up from six feet away? Yeah, now he’s out here blocking dunks, deflecting floaters, and owning the paint like it’s real estate.
Every deep playoff run has that one guy — the unexpected hero. Kornet just punched his ticket into that club.
So what’s next? Game 6 heads to Madison Square Garden on Friday night, and the Celtics — once left for dead without Tatum — are suddenly very much alive. They’re down 3-2, but if Kornet and company keep this same energy, Boston’s got a shot to push this series the full seven.
Don’t be surprised if Kornet shows up at MSG in a cape.
Because if Wednesday taught us anything, it’s that Luke Kornet is no joke. He just made NBA history, silenced doubters, and gave Celtics fans a reason to believe.
And for one magical night, Luke Kornet was HIM.
The post Luke Kornet Accomplishes NBA Feat That Only 3 Other Stars Have in 78-Years During Celtics vs Knicks appeared first on EssentiallySports.
