The Boston Celtics staged a dramatic comeback in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, leaving some fans regretting their decision to leave TD Garden early. With the Pacers holding a three-point lead and possession with just eight seconds left, the Celtics had only a 2.6 percent chance of winning. Yet, a miraculous turn of events unfolded: Jaylen Brown forced a turnover and hit a game-tying three-pointer, sending the game into overtime where the Celtics triumphed 133-128.The next day, Celtics big man Luke Kornet was asked for his thoughts on fans who exited early.
His response was both humorous and empathetic, particularly resonating with parents or anyone familiar with early morning responsibilities.
Luke Kornet doesn’t begrudge any Celtics fans for leaving the game early… kids can make those 8pm starts challenging 😆 pic.twitter.com/DxNKARQkRr
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 22, 2024
“Speaking for myself and for my family, I know that the 8 o’clock start time can be a little late, and kids wake up at about the same time. So you understand, everyone’s making sacrifices to be there,” Luke Kornet said after the Celtics’ practice on Wednesday. “So, that’s a part of it. … I hope (those parents) were able to get their kids to school early and are able to be in a better emotional and mental state to really, like, hit the day running. Because sometimes it can be in a rough (state) the next two or three days if you’re tired or your kids are tired, so yeah, that can be a tough situation.”
Kornet’s empathetic take is particularly relatable given his own experience as a father of two young children. Instead of chastising fans, he humorously likened the parental struggle at late games to his own on-court decisions, saying, “It’s kind of like being able to make the reads of, how much help do I give or how much do I not? You’re always kind of in that position.”
THIS was the moment. JB with the clutch 3PT to give the C’s a chance to come back and get the W 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2cdfY6Jhc1
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 22, 2024
Despite the early departures, those who stayed ensured the TD Garden crowd was electric during overtime, where Jayson Tatum scored 10 of Boston’s 16 points to secure the win.
The Celtics will need that same energy when they return to TD Garden for Game 2 on Thursday night, also with an 8 p.m. ET start time. Kornet’s light-hearted advice serves as a reminder for parents to plan accordingly for another potentially late but thrilling evening.
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