Luke Kornet is set to return for the Boston Celtics tonight after sitting out the first two games against the Miami Heat due to a calf injury. In those games, Coach Joe Mazzulla maintained an eight-man rotation, with Al Horford as the sole big man off the bench, leaving no room for Xavier Tillman or Neemias Queta.
Throughout the season, Kornet has been a valuable contributor to Mazzulla’s squad, using his size and screening skills effectively, particularly as a non-shooting big on the perimeter, creating space for his teammates.
Kornet’s presence offers Mazzulla more options against the Heat, potentially prompting adjustments to the playoff rotation. If Kornet is included, the roster could expand to nine players, possibly at the expense of Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser. With Kornet back, Boston gains significant frontcourt size, and his skill as a slip screener might enable the coaching staff to devise new strategies against Erik Spoelstra’s defensive system, which stifled the Celtics’ offense in game 2.
The Celtics receive an additional boost as Kornet returns at a time when Delon Wright might be absent from the Heat’s rotation, leaving them short-handed. Miami will also be without key players like Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson.
With a full-strength roster, Boston is expected to have a strong advantage against Miami, potentially regaining control of the series. While Kornet may not drastically shift momentum for Mazzulla’s team, he adds a different dimension if called upon. Moreover, he’s arguably the best pick-and-roll defending big man on the Celtics, particularly adept at containing ball-handlers on dribble-drive plays.
Kornet is likely to play a role throughout the postseason, though whether it starts tonight or later in the series remains uncertain.
