BOSTON — The Celtics don’t have many pressing questions about this year’s roster to begin the year but through 14 games, they started to show a little vulnerability with their paint defense. Al Horford has been getting heavier reps at starting center for Kristaps Porzingis and it was easy to wonder whether the 38-year-old was starting to slip just a bit against Father Time, a least from a defensive standpoint.
With the raised stakes on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup tilt against an undefeated Cavs squad featuring a young promising frontcourt in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the matchup served as a good litmus test for Horford’s start to the year. The veteran delivered in a big way. Horford scored a season-high 20 points in the win while going 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range in Boston’s 120-117 win. His former assistant coach in Atlanta and current Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson could only marvel at his longevity after the performance.
“It doesn’t surprise me because of his elite approach to everyday,” Atkinson said. “The shooting piece is incredible. Before he needed time to get it off, now, he needs no time, he gets it off so quick, he’s improved that. It’s an incredible story. I love the guy. He’s the epitome of a professional.”
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Postgame, Joe Mazzulla called the performance inspiring. Jayson Tatum regularly calls Horford his favorite teammate. Make no mistake though of Horford’s importance to the Celtics window of opportunity here. He was a plus-18 in his 32 minutes, which was a team-high. While backup Neemias Queta was a weak link during the Cavs’ third quarter run, Horford was a difference maker down the stretch with two key blocks in the closing minutes.
“Al is just a calming presence out there,” Tatum said. “He just does so many different things for us. Sometimes they show up in the stat sheet and sometimes they down, but just him being on the court with us helps our spacing, helps our defense, he’s such a good passer, willing passer. So we’re just a much better team when when Al is out there and being aggressive.”
Amid the uncertainty of the Celtics payroll beyond this season with new ownership looming, it bears noting that Horford is the only unsigned member of the rotation in 2025-26. The Celtics are eligible to sign Horford to an extension as soon as next month and the succession plan on this roster doesn’t really exist right now among the reserves. The Celtics have to be hoping that Horford still wants to play (and do so cheaply) next year but it’s fair to say there is no concern about him falling off a cliff at this point.
The team has done a fine job managing his minutes through Porzingis’ absence (27.4 minutes per game) and while he isn’t going to bang bodies down low on a nightly basis anymore, he’s fully capable of flipping the switch against elite competition.
“He’s just an innate competitor,” Joe Mazzulla said. “I don’t think people realize that sometimes, because of how quiet a guy is, but he’s an innate competitor, and he has an ability to inspire people around him, and he did that – maybe it was Game 5 here last year against them.
“So there’s moments of the season that he’s a great leader, but sometimes his actions are so loud, and his competitiveness is so loud. And I think tonight was one of those nights.”
As long as Horford remains the best all around big on the floor against the Cavs, it’s hard to see them or anyone else unseating Boston in the Eastern Conference. For as much talent is spread across the Celtics roster, Tuesday’s win is a reminder that Horford is regularly the guy that ties the whole thing together.
