Celtics vs. Pacers: Al Horford continues to defy age with record-setting 3-point performance

As LeBron James, and to a lesser diploma Stephen Curry, have develop into the marquee faces of the NBA’s unprecedented longevity motion, Al Horford, in his seventeenth season and barely per week out from his thirty eighth birthday, is quietly rolling alongside as his personal form of ageless surprise for a Boston Celtics staff that’s one victory wanting a second NBA Finals look within the final three years. 

The Celtics rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers, 114-111, on Saturday night time to take a 3-0 lead within the the Eastern Conference finals, and it was Horford that led the best way from deep with a career-high seven 3-pointers, together with a large nook bucket off a stunning behind-the-back help from Jayson Tatum that felt like the most important shot of the sport.  

“We always talk about spacing, making sure we’re in the right spots. I trusted that he was going to be there, he trusted that I was going to make the right read,” Tatum stated of the connection. “That was a hell of a shot that he made.”

That shot lower Indiana’s lead — which was hovering within the two- to three-possession vary for the majority of the fourth quarter — to two. Prior to that, it felt like Boston was doing the stay-afloat factor greater than making a transfer to recover from the hump. When Horford splashed that 3, Indiana was in bother. 

Slightly greater than 30 seconds later, Jrue Holiday completed a layup plus the foul for an old school 3-point play and Boston, which may very simply, and maybe ought to, be down 2-1 on this sequence, went on high for good. 

Horford’s seven 3s practically matched the entire of the remainder of the Celtics mixed (9). He personally out-shot Indiana from past the arc (7-5). Prior to Saturday, Horford had made six 3s in a recreation six instances in 1,257 profession video games together with the playoffs. He hit six in opposition to Cleveland within the closeout recreation two weeks in the past. He made six in opposition to the Warriors in Game 1 of the 2022 Finals. 

“Whatever he does, whether it’s his leadership, his presence, hitting shots, protecting the rim – he’s a guy that keeps us all together,” Tatum stated of Horford, who completed with 23 factors on 14 photographs with 5 boards, three blocks and a steal. 

In the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, Horford has accomplished his finest to substitute the spacing loss with 16 made 3s during the last 4 playoff video games. The guys runs the pick-and-pop in his sleep, and with all of the downhill consideration Boston’s drivers command, that shot is nearly at all times open. 

Tatum assisted on 5 of Horford’s 3s, three of them by merely coming off the ball display screen and dragging two defenders into the paint as large Al noticed up within the vacated expanse of area left behind. 

Horford, who’s now the oldest participant in NBA historical past to make seven 3s in a playoff recreation, is just not the participant he as soon as was, however he stays a extremely efficient defender and offensive connector who can harm you from 3 on any given night time as you scramble to sustain with all of Boston’s scorers, as Indiana and the Cavs have each came upon in these playoffs. 

“I’ve been very blessed to still be in this position, to be able to play at this type of level, to be part of a team like the Celtics,” Horford stated. “I’m really making sure that I’m doing everything I can to contribute to the team. … This position that I’m in right now, it’s pretty unique. I’m very grateful for it.”