With simply over seven minutes to go within the ball recreation, and the Celtics trailing by two, Al Horford threw an ill-advised go to Neemias Queta that resulted in a quick break for Philadelphia.
It was an uncharacteristically poor resolution for the veteran, who usually serves as essentially the most calming but energizing presence on the roster.
So, he made positive to make up for it.
Horford sprinted again on protection, denied Tobias Harris on the rim, after which teamed up with Jaylen Brown to dam him as soon as once more.
On the following offensive possession, Horford drove and collapsed the protection, kicking it out to Jrue Vacation for a wide-open nook three. Swish. The Celtics took a one-point lead.
“Simply competing, making an attempt to make one thing occur,” Horford advised NBC Boston sideline reporter Abby Chin when requested of his consecutive blocks. “Earlier within the quarter, Mo Bamba got here in and acquired a simple tip-in. It was most likely my fault, so I really feel like I wanted to make up for that. In that play, I used to be simply making an attempt to guard the basket, making an attempt to get us going.”
Horford scored six extra factors down the stretch, together with a post-up with two minutes to go and four-of-four fourth quarter free throws.
The Celtics, regardless of Jayson Tatum’s third quarter ejection and a reasonably uninspiring first half, got here away with a win in opposition to Philadelphia to enhance to a league-best 15-4 document.
“We had a alternative,” Horford stated. “We may’ve folded, or discovered an excuse, however I really feel like our group, we actually rallied collectively and understood that we wanted to maintain competing and discover a strategy to win.”
By the tip of the evening, he completed with 20 factors on 7 of 9 taking pictures, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and quite a few hustle performs that acquired the bench on their toes.
Al Horford appreciation tweet, once more ☘️
He completed with 20 factors (7-9 FG), six boards, three assists & two blocks in opposition to the 76ers final evening. Nonetheless one of many greatest keys for the Celtics: pic.twitter.com/jwtQt2bfC9
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) December 2, 2023
At 37 years outdated, a lot has been fabricated from Horford’s continued on-court success, regardless of his being one of many oldest gamers within the league. Primarily coming off the bench this season, he’s averaged 7.6 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and a pair of.8 assists this season.
However, Horford at all times appears to avoid wasting his greatest showings for Philadelphia. His 20-point recreation final evening was his first 20-point efficiency since March fifth’s double-overtime loss to the Knicks, and the earlier recreation in opposition to Philadelphia was his first time scoring in double figures all season.
Final evening, the Celtics wanted him. Enjoying in opposition to a Philadelphia workforce lacking its prime two scorers — Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid had been each out sick — the Celtics allowed 72 first-half factors. Then, they misplaced their prime scorer in Jayson Tatum, and appeared positioned to let one slip away.
“I don’t really feel like we had it — name it that, whether or not it was lesser competitors, or we simply felt a step sluggish on the market, it was all the best way round,” Horford stated. “Within the second half, we did a greater job. Held them to 25 within the third, 22 within the fourth. That’s extra us. That first half, I don’t suppose it was indicative of our workforce.”
The Celtics have traditionally struggled in opposition to short-handed squads, matchups that Derrick White described as troublesome as a result of reality gamers play extra freely when the celebrities on their workforce are sidelined.
“I really feel like we didn’t set the tone, we didn’t play the best way that we’re purported to play, and so they had been making actually powerful photographs far and wide — contested, powerful photographs,” Horford stated. “The second half, we responded, it was significantly better. However when you get a workforce going like that, it’s actually onerous to type of cool them off. It was a type of video games that we needed to discover a strategy to win, and I’m glad we received it as a result of it could have been terrible if we’d have misplaced this recreation.”
If it weren’t for Horford’s large evening, they may not have been in a position to rectify the lackluster begin. Regardless of struggling along with his shot within the opening month, Horford is now taking pictures 48.5% from the sector and 35.9% from three. Reinserted into the beginning lineup with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined over the past three video games, Horford has hit 16 of his final 25 photographs.
“It’s essentially the most inspiring factor for me as a coach to observe him,” Joe Mazzulla stated after the Celtics final confronted Philadelphia.
In his final two video games mixed, Horford has gone for 36 factors, 15 boards, 9 assists, 5 blocks, and three steals. He’s turning again the clock, and he’s serving to the Celtics proceed their dominance, particularly when he’s matched up in opposition to his former workforce.
