Al Horford and the Boston Celtics sought to end the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers’ season on Wednesday night at TD Garden. In the two games played in Cleveland earlier, Boston had shown that it was in control. Without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert, the Cavaliers were down 3-1 in Boston, posing an ominous task.
Al Horford gave the Celtics a fantastic effort throughout the contest. With only a minute remaining, the arena audience erupted in cheers when the Celtics’ ball movement found Horford free at the top of the key to make the game-winning 3-pointer. The team also executed a crucial defensive play, pushing the ball out of bounds for the Cavaliers.
Despite a valiant effort by Cleveland, Boston maintained their lead throughout, particularly after Jrue Holiday’s critical jumper with just under two minutes to give the Celtics a 108-94 advantage.
According to the NBA website, Jayson Tatum led the squad with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Boston won the series in Game 5 with a final score of 113-98.
Al Horford Was All Fired Up During the Game 5
The Celtics are the first club to guarantee their berth in the Conference Finals. They enjoy a well-earned rest before taking on the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.
Boston is now awaiting the conclusion of the Knicks-Pacers game and is hoping for a drawn-out series to extend Al Horford’s rest window and give injured player Kristaps Porzingis enough time to heal.
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The Celtics depended a lot on Al Horford during the season, and that tendency grew more vital in the postseason. Horford took on even more responsibility in the second round when Porzingis was forced to withdraw due to a calf ailment in the first.
His extra playing time against the Cavaliers has resulted in additional defensive responsibilities, particularly defending Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Al Horford struggled against Mitchell early in the series. But he became a vital player for the Celtics in Game 5, acting like an alarm clock going off when they needed it.
Also Read: ESPN Insider Hinted at Potential Trade Discussions of Donovan Mitchell From the Lakers and the Nets
