Al Horford’s ‘calming presence’ helped the Celtics hand the Cavaliers their first loss
The 38-year-old stepped up big for Boston on Tuesday, finishing the game as a team-best +18.
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The Cavaliers would probably have maintained their unbeaten record if it hadn’t been for Al Horford on Tuesday.
Horford, 38, often played in place of a struggling Neemias Queta during the Celtics’ second NBA Cup matchup. Queta logged 16 minutes and was a -15 on the court with three turnovers.
In contrast to Queta, Horford saw the parquet for 31 minutes and finished the game as a team-best +15. The veteran scored a season-high 20 points, topping his previous best 18 points on Saturday against the Raptors. Those points helped Boston win 120-117.
Horford was also 4-for-5 from the three-point line and notched seven rebounds, plus three blocks. Two of those swats came in massively clutch down the stretch in the final five minutes of the contest as the Celtics were trying to separate themselves from Cleveland.
Here’s his first crunch-time block when Boston’s lead was 107-102 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter:
Horford was asked about his defensive performance postgame. He said he was just trying to make plays to give his team the chance to win it late.
“That was just about finishing the job,” he told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game. “I felt like we played really well in the first half. In the third, they cut into the lead and in the fourth, they got in there and it was a back-and-forth. It was like, ‘Man, we put ourselves in the position, we gotta finish it so we can see it through.’ At that point, you’re out there just making plays and competing, and that’s what I was doing.”
The big man’s big night drew praise from teammate Jayson Tatum, who came close to logging a triple-double once more. Tatum boasted about how Horford continues to show up on both ends of the court.
“I think Al is just a calming presence out there. He does so many different things for us,” Tatum said postgame (via Bobby Krivitsky). “Sometimes they show up in the stat sheet, and sometimes they don’t. But him being on the court with us helps our spacing, helps with our defense, he’s such a good passer, [and a] willing passer. So, we’re just a much better team when Al is out there and being aggressive.”
Tatum held a joint postgame press conference with Derrick White, which produced this comical moment. A reporter said that Horford is Tatum’s favorite teammate (Tatum has said this in the past) and White provided an all-time reaction:
While he may have been the cause of some laughter postgame, Horford was also brought up by both head coaches in a more serious light after his impressive night.
Both Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and the Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson raved about Horford as a player and as a person.
“He’s just an innate competitor and he has the ability to inspire guys,” Mazzulla said. “I don’t know if people realize that because of his quiet nature. He’s a great leader and sometimes his actions are so loud, and his competitiveness is so loud — tonight is one of those nights.”
Atkinson, who coached Horford on the Hawks between 2012-16, had nothing but positive things to say about his former player.
“The shooting piece is incredible. Before he needed time to get it off; now, he needs no time,” he said. “It’s an incredible story. I love the guy. He’s the epitome of a professional.”
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