Al Horford makes NBA historical past with unbelievable Recreation 5 stat line initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
The oldest participant remaining within the 2024 NBA playoffs was the perfect participant on the ground Wednesday evening at TD Backyard.
Al Horford delivered an epic efficiency in Recreation 5 of the Japanese Convention semifinals, powering the Boston Celtics to a 113-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that earned them a 4-1 sequence victory and their sixth journey to the Japanese Convention Finals within the final eight years.
The 37-year-old’s remaining stat line: 22 factors on 8 of 15 taking pictures (6 of 13 3-pointers) with 15 rebounds (seven offensive), 5 assists, one steal and three blocks.
In response to NBC Sports activities Boston statistician Dick Lipe, Horford is the primary participant in NBA historical past to report not less than 10 rebounds, 5 3-pointers, 5 assists and three blocks in a playoff recreation.
Gamers in NBA playoff historical past with not less than 10 rebounds, 5 three-pointers, 5 assists and three blocks.
Al Horford, tonightNo one else.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) Might 16, 2024
Al Horford is the primary participant in NBA historical past with
20+ PTS15+ REB5+ 3P3+ BLK
in a playoff recreation (he is the oldest participant left within the playoffs). pic.twitter.com/QijuEWtiiQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) Might 16, 2024
What’s extra, Horford is the second-oldest participant in NBA historical past to tally not less than 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff recreation, behind solely Corridor of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Al Horford is the 2nd oldest participant in NBA playoff historical past to have not less than 20 factors, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a recreation. He trails solely Kareen, who had 30-17-8 towards the Celtics Might 30, 1985.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) Might 16, 2024
That is a exceptional achievement for a 17-year veteran who will flip 38 on June 3. The Cavs have been daring Horford to shoot early on Wednesday evening — he entered the sport having missed his final 11 3-pointers within the sequence and went simply 3 of 8 from 3-point vary within the first half — however the large synthetic them pay down the stretch, going 3 of 5 from past the arc within the second half whereas capping his evening with a dagger within the remaining minute.
The Celtics wanted somebody of their frontcourt to step up Wednesday with Kristaps Porzingis nonetheless sidelined with a calf harm and their offense wanting torpid within the first half.
Boston’s elder statesman rose to the problem after which some.
“Everyone’s a frontrunner on the staff otherwise. Al leads instrumentally, not a lot of a talker. Tonight, you noticed his present,” head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned after the sport. “His present is simply ardour, inspiration, toughness, aggressive nature.
“… You noticed his character (tonight). I believed he was large. I believed that he began it for us and all the fellows responded properly. … I’m honored to teach him.”
Horford will get some well-deserved relaxation because the Celtics await the winner of New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers within the different Japanese Convention semifinal sequence. New York presently leads 3-2 coming into Recreation 6 on Friday evening.
