Celtics’ Al Horford finally snaps Finals streak
Lastly, Al Horford has made it to the NBA Finals.
Horford helped lead the Boston Celtics previous the Miami Warmth in Sport 7 of the Japanese Convention finals on Sunday evening, which officially put the Celtics back in the Finals for the first time since 2010.
However extra importantly for Horford, it’ll mark the primary Finals in his 14-year profession.
Horford performed in his 141st profession playoff recreation on Sunday evening, but he had by no means reached that ultimate collection. The streak was the longest in NBA historical past.
“I simply did not know easy methods to act,” Horford mentioned, via 98.5’s Alex Barth. “I am on the market simply caught up, excited. Numerous exhausting work, I have been part of plenty of good groups, good teammates. I am so pleased with this group … for me, it is so particular to be part of this.”
Horford had performed in 11 extra playoff video games than Paul Millsap, who now has the longest streak with out reaching the Finals. Joe Johnson and Steve Nash performed in 120 postseason video games, after which Terry Cummings rounds out the highest 5 with 110 playoff video games.
Horford had 5 factors and 14 rebounds in Boston’s 100-96 win on Sunday evening, and he averaged 12.3 factors and 9.3 rebounds all through the postseason. They’re going to kick off the Finals against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Thursday evening.
Horford averaged 10.2 factors and seven.7 rebounds this season with the Celtics, his first again with the crew after a three-year run in Boston from 2016-19. The five-time All-Star obtained his begin with the Atlanta Hawks, the place he performed from 2007-16 after they took him with the No. 3 total choose. He then performed a season every with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than touchdown again in Boston.
The 35-year-old has come near the Finals a couple of instances up to now. The Hawks misplaced within the Japanese Convention finals in 2015 with Horford, after which the Celtics misplaced within the Japanese Convention finals twice with Horford in 2017 and 2018.
Although it took him longer than anybody to lastly get there, Horford is lastly enjoying for an NBA title in the end.
“It feels nice,” Horford mentioned, through NBC Sports activities Boston. “It is plenty of exhausting work, plenty of years working towards this chance. I am simply so grateful, grateful for these guys, watching these guys develop up. It is unbelievable.”
