POST GAME - PORTLAND - HOME

Celtics Wrap: Al Horford Hits Game-Winner In Thrilling Win Over Blazers

NESN by Dakota Randall on Sun, Feb 4, 2018 at 2:35PM

A huge sports day in New England got off to an epic start at TD Garden, thanks to Al Horford. The Boston Celtics forward hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to give the C’s a thrilling 97-96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Super Bowl Sunday.

Boston trailed for nearly the entire game but played great basketball down the stretch to pick up up one of its most exciting victories of the season. Horford led the Celtics in points (22), rebounds (10), assists (5, tied with two others) and blocks (2). He also spent much of the second half playing point guard while Terry Rozier was on the bench. Jayson Tatum (17 points), Jaylen Brown (16 points) and Rozier (11 points) also had big games for Boston. The Celtics once again over came the absences of Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris and Shane Larkin — who all remain out with injuries — to pick up their fourth consecutive victory, improving to 39-15 while the Blazers fell to 29-24. Here’s how it all went down:

STARTING FIVE PG: Terry Rozier SG: Jaylen Brown SF: Jayson Tatum PF: Al Horford C: Aron Baynes

SLOW START Tatum used a sweet fake to pick up the game’s first points. The first quarter was mostly downhill from there, though. The Blazers outscored Boston 26-19 in the first frame, as the C’s shot a woeful 26.9 percent from the floor in the quarter. The Celtics didn’t reach 10 points until just under five minutes to go in quarter, and the score would have been even uglier if it weren’t for Tatum’s eight points. Boston’s thin bench clearly was a factor, as it’s never a good sign when Guerschon Yabusele gets first-quarter minutes.

MORE OF THE SAME The second quarter was equally uninspiring, as Portland outscored Boston 28-19 to take a 54-38 lead into the locker room. The Celtics’ shooting and rebounding woes continued, as Portland out-rebounded them 28-19 in the first half. The second quarter did include some great highlights, though, especially Yabusele’s 3-pointer and ensuing bow-and-arrow dab. That never will get old.

HERE COME THE C’S The Celtics, as they always do, made a run in the third quarter. Boston opened the second half on fire and used a huge run to narrow the score to 61-60, Blazers. The C’s had multiple chances to either tie or take the lead — including when it was 68-67 — but couldn’t get over the hump in the period. Rozier, unsurprisingly, was a big part of the Celtics’ push. The Blazers eventually rediscovered their game, and closed the quarter holding a 73-69 lead.

EPIC FINISH The fourth quarter was a complete roller coaster, concluding with an exhilarating win for the Celtics. Portland maintained a multiple-possession lead for much of the frame. But a 3-pointer from Tatum with 3:35 remaining, followed by a 3-pointer from Horford on the next possession, gave the C’s their first lead since early in the first quarter. Boston looked to have the game in control toward the end, but Damian Lillard’s and-one finish gave the Blazers the lead with under 10 seconds to go. That set the stage for Horford’s fade-away game-winner. Here’s Lillard’s play: And here’s Horford’s winner: Unreal. Here’s another angle of the celebration: Your move, New England Patriots.

PLAY OF THE GAME We already covered the buzzer-beater, so Horford’s second-quarter dunk on Jusuf Nurkic gets the nod here.

UP NEXT The Celtics return to action Tuesday night for a road matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off from Air Canada Centre is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

112288

And again Stevens shows no visible reaction to the winning hoop.

Can’t post the video from my phone but when you look at it he just glances then walks towards mid court.  

We made several key shots in the final minutes but Portland matched most of them.  Considering our short bench this is a huge win moving forward.

Pretty sure the Toronto game Tuesday will have an Eastern Final playoff atmosphere........ sorry Cleveland.

beat

Try this link:

https://youtu.be/DuQIqq2iF5I

The Celtics only have 28 games left. If they go 21-7, that's sixty wins. It seems very doable and might be enough to hold off Toronto.

This was a phenomenal win considering how many players were missing. That was a very aggressive Horford all game. He was into it even when on the bench.

There was a terrible call by the ref which almost gift-wrapped it to Portland. He needs glasses. And wow, that was a tough shot by Al to win it. It doesn't get much more clutch than that. He was fading away into a deep mid-range.

Poor Evan Turner. Or he's actually rich Evan Turner but in a poor basketball situation.

I was completely expecting a loss. Looking at the stats, the Celtics won by getting a few extra rebounds and a few extra three pointers.

That had to be a crushing loss for Portland. The Celtics had Horford at point guard. Tatum chipped in with five assists too which helped. Maybe Sandpd was correct it's a pg by committee, but from what I see, it is Rozier and Horford (and rarely Brown) acting as pg's for the last three games. Rozier had five assists and one turnover.

Rozier shot like Smart, but I guess as Cowens pointed out, he deserves some credit for playing good defense. Ojeleye had no turnovers in 28 minutes. That's pitiful by Portland to not win. Speaking of missed bunnies at the net, Nurkic was helpful.

I'm still shocked the C's won that.

Horford has nothing to prove. Get Monroe in uniform, get the hurt back on their feet, and then start setting up the playoff rotation. Kyrie is very flashy, but I think Horford proved today that he is the most important Celtic. He is at the peak of his career. It's exciting.

I mean, unless someone wants to sulk and say Golden State is invincible and this is a bridge year no matter how good the C's gel, I am not so sure of that anymore if they are winning games like this while missing three point guards and Morris.

Tough win, but probably a signature win against a good team.


Kj

Wildly entertaining game, the kids are growing brass balls.

Our young core of Rozier, Tatum and Brown can play through bad stretches and make the right play and hit big shots when the game is getting down to the wire. They all hit huge shots, couldn’t believe the last 3 pointer by Jaylen with a defender in his face. Pierce like, was not expecting that and it’s not the first time he’s hit a 3 with the game on the line. Yeah he and Tatum missed some lay ups, but going forward I think their decisions and finishing ability is only going to get better and better.

Cleveland is shot this year, right now they may not even hold onto to 4th seed, it’s going to come to us and Raptors to get to Finals, they have more experience, we have more depth and youth, energy. We match up really well with GS....we could steal the whole enchilada this year.