Luke Kornet provides Celtics with much-needed spark in win over Bulls

Three-pointers had been the notable distinction within the Boston Celtics’ 124-113 win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night time. Boston nailed 21 threes to Chicago’s 9 — a 36-point distinction between the 2 sides.

Nevertheless, a deeper look reveals one other key disparity.

The Bulls had been red-hot all night time lengthy. They shot 57.3% from the sphere, to the Celtics’ 51.2%. Boston simply dominated the glass. They snagged 41 rebounds whereas the Bulls solely corralled 29, and the Celtics received the battle on the offensive boards 12-3.

Chicago rosters two guys who common greater than eight rebounds per sport: Nikola Vucevic, a double-double machine, and Andre Drummond, among the finest rebounders of the final decade. Each had been outdueled by Luke Kornet.

“Man, unbelievable,” Al Horford said of Kornet. “His power. Relentless on the glass. Key offensive rebounds. Faucet-outs. Put-backs. He’s doing every part for us down there.”

Kornet completed the night time with a career-high 13 rebounds, together with 5 on the offensive finish.

In a sport the Celtics received by 11 factors, the place three-pointers had been seen because the separating issue, Kornet helped his squad outscore the Bulls 23-2 on second-chance factors.

Boston earned 13 second-chance alternatives to the Bulls’ 4. Vucevic completed the sport with two rebounds, whereas Drummond managed six, 5 of which had been defensive.

After the sport, Kornet, all the time the comic, made gentle of his rebounding efforts.

“Effort is like 80% of the battle,” Kornet said with a smile. “I assume it’s simply doing it. Making an attempt arduous. Yeah, youngsters, simply strive arduous. That’s many of the battle. Being tall helps. After which, generally, the ball simply sort of involves you, and different nights, you strive actually arduous, and it doesn’t come to you in any respect. Tonight was, thankfully, a type of different nights.”

Chicago’s lack of a three-point assault could also be the primary storyline, however with out Kornet’s rebounding, Boston could have had their win streak snapped.