Knicks' Luke Kornet earns second straight start

Kornet scored a career-high 23 points against the Bucks on Thursday

12/29/2018, 4:08 PM
New York Knicks forward Luke Kornet attempts to control the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and forward Khris Middleton defend in the third quarter at the Fiserv Forum. / Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks forward Luke Kornet attempts to control the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and forward Khris Middleton defend in the third quarter at the Fiserv Forum. / Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports

David Fizdale is sticking with Luke Kornet

The Knicks head coach said on Friday that the 23-year-old center will start again on Saturday against the Utah Jazz following the 7-footer's career-high 23 point performance against the Bucks on Thursday, which included shooting 7 of 11 from three-point range.  

"I want to look at it for a little bit," Fizdale said, per Marc Berman of The Post. "That's part of the deal. He was the one guy that I hadn't looked at in that lineup. I just felt like with that group why not look at it with some space. It looked pretty good."

Kornet, who played in 10 games with the Knicks' G League affiliate earlier this year, will be getting the nod over Enes Kanter for the second straight game. 

Kanter did not appear happy with the decision on Thursday, tweeting a facepalm emoji before the game against the Bucks, in which he was ejected after a skirmish with Giannis Antetokounmpo

Yet Kornet brings a different style than Kanter, whose game focuses more on being in the paint and playing the low post while Kornet can shoot from the outside and spread the offense out. 

Fizdale also likes what Kornet can potentially bring on defense, where Kanter has struggled to protect the rim. 

"They're different," Fizdale said. "Luke is a big guy. That's the one thing. Luke is all arms and legs. He's not a big jumper, but he can challenge at the rim with a lot of size. Luke has a really good knack for whatever reason of how to kind of like navigate a defense. He knows how to talk people into position."

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