The oldest player remaining in the 2024 NBA playoffs was the best player on the floor Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Al Horford delivered an epic performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, powering the Boston Celtics to a 113-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that earned them a 4-1 series victory and their sixth trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in the last eight years.
The 37-year-old's final stat line: 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting (6 of 13 3-pointers) with 15 rebounds (seven offensive), five assists, one steal and three blocks.
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According to NBC Sports Boston statistician Dick Lipe, Horford is the first player in NBA history to record at least 10 rebounds, five 3-pointers, five assists and three blocks in a playoff game.
What's more, Horford is the second-oldest player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game, behind only Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
That's a remarkable achievement for a 17-year veteran who will turn 38 on June 3. The Cavs were daring Horford to shoot early on Wednesday night -- he entered the game having missed his last 11 3-pointers in the series and went just 3 of 8 from 3-point range in the first half -- but the big man made them pay down the stretch, going 3 of 5 from beyond the arc in the second half while capping his night with a dagger in the final minute.
The Celtics needed someone in their frontcourt to step up Wednesday with Kristaps Porzingis still sidelined with a calf injury and their offense looking lethargic in the first half.
Boston's elder statesman rose to the challenge and then some.
"Everybody's a leader on the team in a different way. Al leads instrumentally, not much of a talker. Tonight, you saw his gift," head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. "His gift is just passion, inspiration, toughness, competitive nature.
"... You saw his personality (tonight). I thought he was tremendous. I thought that he started it for us and all the guys responded well. ... I’m honored to coach him."
Horford will get some well-deserved rest as the Celtics await the winner of New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers in the other Eastern Conference semifinal series. New York currently leads 3-2 entering Game 6 on Friday night.