Luke Kornet has been an unsung hero for the Boston Celtics this season. The veteran big man has carved out an essential role for himself off Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla's bench. Kornet is the primary back-up center,

Kornet had nine points (4-4 FG, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 32 minutes during Thursday's 123-105 win over the 76ers.

Horford will continue to sit out one leg of Boston's back-to-backs Thursday due to his toe injury. With Kristaps Porzingis (knee) also out, Neemias Queta and Luke Kornet are set to receive the bulk of the team's center minutes against Philadelphia.

"Perhaps moving Al Horford ... for a switchy wing like Cody Martin or Royce O'Neale might make some sense," suggests B/R. We disagree.

"You take a look at his stat sheet, it doesn't always show what he does for us," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Horford.

The Boston Celtics avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season on Sunday, thanks in large part to a vintage performance by Al Horford.

Al Horford is still holding his own against elite players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic at age 38.

The Celtics will be missing at least two important pieces when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.