Saturday night may have been the biggest regular-season game of the year. The Boston Celtics took on the new-look Los Angeles Lakers, with Luka Doncic at the helm. It was the first time Doncic has squared off against the Celtics since his defeat in the 2024 NBA Finals, and anytime LeBron James plays Boston, there’s some extra juice. But Al Horford stole the show. Literally.
If the Lake Show Lakers are defined by Doncic and James, which they are, then Horford completely ruined their movie production. At every turn, he managed to shut down the Lakers’ biggest stars, spearheading Boston’s victory.
Tatum spoke about the impact Horford has both on and off the court for the Celtics.
“Al is one of a kind,” Tatum said. “He’s the anchor to our defense and the heart and soul of our team. Keeps us emotionally steady. The things that he’s still able to provide in Year 18 is remarkable. I don’t think that gets talked about enough, being an intricate part on a championship team in Year 18, and we wouldn’t be who we are without him.”
Tim Bontemps of ESPN put out some stats after the game, and they perfectly summed up Horford’s impact on defense.
The Lakers shot just 7-of-23 against the 38-year-old big man. And Doncic and James combined to shoot just 3-of-14 as a duo against Horford.
“What he brings on the defensive end, like you said, we feel comfortable with Al switching and guarding his yard and making it tough on whoever,” Tatum said. “Knowing that we’re all on the same page and helping behind, but we’re not worried about who Al is guarding.”
On top of an elite defensive showing, Horford also brought a lot to the table on the offensive end. And it was more than his usual floor spacing antics, too.
Horford finished the night with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.
“Just making the right reads on offensive end,” said Tatum. “Ducking in guys, knocking down open shots.”
Having Horford on the team is the ultimate luxury for the Celtics, especially at his current contract value. Teams will continue to go at Horford because, on an elite defensive team like Boston, he’s the closest thing to a weak link.
But in reality, he’s anything but that.
“I’m the biggest Al Horford fan there is,” said Tatum. “I love that guy.”
