Going into the season, Luke Kornet’s role within the Boston Celtics’ rotation was unclear. However, more than halfway into the season, Kornet has become a mainstay in the Celtics’ rotation and has proven to be an integral part of Boston’s success.

The Boston Celtics were playing a different kind of blame game following the team's 114-112 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Seemingly everyone wanted to shoulder responsibility for the team's latest collapse.

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun (28) goes up for a shot as Boston Celtics' Derrick White (9) and Luke Kornet defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP

Joe Mazzulla took the blame for the late-game miscues, saying he put his players in poor position but it was evident that Horford’s absence proved costly in that spot since Kornet has not played in crunch time for much of the season.

Those last two plays are on me. Those are my fault.” Joe Mazzulla pointed the finger at himself after the Celtics dropped a 114-112 thriller to the Rockets on Monday night.

Boston nearly pulled off a great win, but fell for the seventh time this season after leading by at least 10 points.

This was a terrific showing for Kornet as he picked up the start with Derrick White (leg) unavailable. Al Horford (toe) was expected to play, but was ultimately a late scratch that went unreported by Boston. Kornet has fared well as a fill-in starter this season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 blocks in six games.

The big man will receive his sixth start of the season with Al Horford coming off the bench Monday. Kornet has averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.4 minutes per game over his five appearances in the starting lineup thus far.

It wasn’t enough to power the Celtics past the red-hot Rockets ... that’s big time. And Luke was great.” Kornet wasn’t afraid to battle down low against Houston’s physical defense.

Amen Thompson hit a game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

The Celtics expected to be down two rotation players in their matchup with the Rockets. Minutes before tipoff, they learned they’d actually be missing three.

When Boston needed a stop, the calls the Celtics coach made proved disastrous, and afterward took responsibility for the loss: "I didn't help them close it at the end."