ORLANDO - Six points, six rebounds, two assists, and five blocks.
Outside of the five blocks — more than the entire Orlando team — it’s a modest stat line. But box scores rarely tell the whole story with Al Horford.
“There should be a separate stat sheet for guys like him because of the type of stuff that he does,” head coach Joe Mazzula said after the game. “Just an unbelievable competitor. He made all the plays necessary to help us win.”
It’s easy for Horford’s night to get overlooked with Jayson Tatum pouring in 37 points and 14 rebounds, including nine of Boston’s 16 points during a statement-closing 16-7 run over the final 4:38 en route to 107-98 Game 4 win over the Magic. Jaylen Brown added 21 points and 11 boards, Derrick White delivered 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and Kristaps Porzingis finally found some rhythm with 19 points.
But make no mistake — Horford had his fingerprints all over Boston’s Game 4 win.
“Tremendous. Tremendous effort from Al down the stretch in that second half. Big-time rebounds, some big-time plays,” said Brown, “He just did what it took to win. We don’t expect nothing less. That is just Al Horford in a nutshell.”
Horford’s 190 career postseason games are now tied with Magic Johnson for the 13th most in NBA history. He needs just four more to pass Karl Malone and Danny Ainge (193). There’s a good chance he will become just the 11th player in league history to play in at least 200 playoff games this postseason.
He might not be posting the same per-game averages he did over the last decade and a half, but he’s just as important as he was when he averaged a double-double with the Hawks in his rookie season over 16 years ago — as evidenced by Game 4.
“I can’t say it enough. Al is unbelievable. Big moments. Game is tied, four minutes left, and just making plays the entire night on both ends of the floor,” said Tatum. “He’s 38 years old, and he is picking them up full court, doing whatever is asked of him. That kind of sets the tone for everybody else. He’s got the heart of a champion.”
Defensively, Orlando shot just 5-of-19 (26.3%) with Horford as the primary defender. With his five blocks, he became just the second player in NBA history to record five blocks in a playoff game at age 38 or older, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Through the first four games of this series, the Magic are shooting just 32.8% against Horford — a whopping 12% below their expected output.
Horford’s defensive versatility is rare. Even at 38, he remains one of the few bigs who can guard the league’s top scorers at any position — and it’s been a game-changer for the Celtics this postseason.
In Game 4, Paolo Banchero, averaging 25.9 points on 45.5% shooting this series, went just 3-of-10 against Horford and was blocked twice. Franz Wagner, averaging 24.2 points on 46.3% shooting, was held to 0-of-5 with a block as well. Both are closer in age to Horford’s son, Ean, than they are to Horford himself.
But you’d never know Horford turns 39 in less than two months. He was picking up guard Corey Joseph full court, diving into the Orlando bench for a loose ball, crashing in from the corner to outmuscle Magic players for rebounds, and powering through smaller defenders on post-ups. Two of his five blocks came on hard closeouts against three-point shooters — and those energy plays didn’t go unnoticed.
“It riles us up. If Al can do it, fourth quarter, game on the line, there are no excuses for anybody else,” said Brown. “It just anchors us down.”
Horford remains the emotional leader of this team. Even when he’s not filling up the stat sheet, his impact is felt — and valued — especially in the ways that can’t be measured.
He’s elite in his role — a role he fully embraced for the sake of Banner 18 and beyond. Horford has seamlessly transitioned from full-time starter to do-it-all veteran — no easy feat for someone who spent the first 16 years of his career in the starting five. But whenever Boston calls on him, no matter the role, he delivers.
On Sunday night in Game 4, the Celtics needed Horford’s toughness and energy to match Orlando’s physicality — and he answered, helping Boston grind out a critical win and seize control of the series. And if the Celtics are going to get where they want to go, Horford will be right in the thick of it — even if his impact doesn’t always show up on the surface.
“This was a big win. On the road in a tough, physical environment, against a team that’s been playing well, and a team that has been eager to take us out,” said Brown. “Tonight was a big win. We get our rest, and we rally the troops and get back to it back in Boston on our home floor.”
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