BOSTON — The Celtics are in the midst of one of their most grueling stretches of the season, playing five games in seven nights. Facing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks amid that grind is a tall task for any team but the Celtics were up to the challenge defensively on Friday night. Boston limited the Bucks to just six points in the final six minutes of their 111-105 win and Antetokounmpo was held in check (by his standards) with just 30 points on 25 shot attempts and only six free throw attempts.
A key part of that defense? Al Horford went minute for minute in the game with Antetokounmpo, ensuring the team’s best big defender was in the game every second that Antetokounmpo was on the floor.
Normally, this would be a very big ask of a 38-year-old Horford to play equal minutes (36) to Antetokounmpo in a regular season game. Horford is averaging just xx minutes per game this year and that’s a number the coaching staff has wisely kept down this year despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis for 18 games to begin the year.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
However, Boston’s schedule posed a hidden opportunity for Horford on Friday night and Mazzulla took advantage. The Celtics had a back-to-back looming on Saturday against the Grizzlies but the world knows Horford wouldn’t be playing that game (he hasn’t played back-to-backs for two years). After that game? The Celtics don’t play again until Thursday, giving the team four days off. That bumps up to five days for Horford knowing he will be out of action on Saturday.
The unusually long recovery period for Horford allowed for Mazzulla to push it with his veteran big man and play him closer to postseason minutes, knowing very well recovery would not be an issue afterwards. The Celtics in fact only will play two games in 11 days after Saturday, giving the team a terrific chance to catch their breath midseason.
With Porzingis out on Friday, Mazzulla leaned into this look with great success, knowing Horford would take pride in the matchup.
“There are certain teams that it just does (feel different) and we’ve been since JT’s rookie year, we went to seven against those guys,” Horford said. “Year after year, both teams have had a lot of success in the East and it is different, every time we play them and that’s just the reality.”
It was a night that was a good litmus test for Boston with a rival in town and at strength for the first time all year with Khris Middleton back healthy. Boston could have been ripe for a letdown in their fourth game in six nights, particularly when the 3-ball wasn’t following early (0-of-12 in second quarter).
Yet, Horford helped anchor a stellar Celtics defense late and having him on the floor for all 36 minutes against Antetokounmpo may have very well been the difference in Boston’s third straight win. Mazzulla saw the rare opportunity for his veteran to put his foot on the gas with limited downside and took advantage of it.
“I think for us, it’s a responsibility that we carry,” Horford said. “We always want to play high-level basketball. And for them, obviously a lot of teams want to be in this type of position. They’re competitors, and they want to get to this point, and they’re playing better basketball. But for us, it’s just a sign of respect, and it’s something that we fight really hard to keep here, that kind of environment.”
