Luka Garza is emerging as a vital bench piece for the Boston Celtics, providing instant offense and reliability during the team's strong 4W-1L start. His recent performance was key in the Celtics' 109-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 4, 2026, part of a three-game winning streak.
Garza's role has expanded significantly. After averaging just 8.9 minutes in the season's first five games, his playing time jumped to 18.7 minutes per game over the last three contests. He's made the most of it. Since the start of November, the 27-year-old is putting up 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and two assists per game.
His shooting has been exceptional. Garza leads all Boston Celtics centers with a 52.4% success rate from beyond the arc. That mark also ranks first among Eastern Conference centers attempting at least 2.6 threes per game. He hit all three of his first-half attempts against Milwaukee, finishing with 11 points in just 18 minutes.
Garza's production solves a problem. With early-season adjustments for Mitchell Robinson, the Celtics needed someone ready. Garza was. He creates extra possessions, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds so far. That puts him right behind Robinson (17) and Neemias Queta (18) for the team lead.
He also spaces the floor perfectly. Garza is Joe Mazzulla's best three-point shooter among the team's big men. Defenses can't sag off him. This opens driving lanes for players like Payton Pritchard. The drive-and-kick game to find Garza on the perimeter is now a real weapon in Boston's playbook.
The Celtics' recent form is strong. Following the win over Milwaukee, their last five results read WLWWW. This run includes a 108-97 win in Orlando on November 1 and a 125-111 victory over Chicago on October 30. The only blemish was a 109-93 loss in Houston on November 2.
Garza has made his case for consistent minutes. He supports the starters and guides the reserves, using his experience from three years with Minnesota. Boston's next challenge is a road game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 6. If Garza keeps shooting like this, he'll be a fixture in the rotation all season.
