Celts steal moment
Win Game 3 stunner
PHILADELPHIA — He doesn’t say much, but Al Horford is better than anxiety medication for these Celtics. CELTICS 101 76ERS 98
“When things are going poorly, everyone just kind of looks to Al, including the coaches, we all just kind of stare at Al to say something,” Brad Stevens said after the Celtics endured through the wildest conditions of the postseason yesterday. “And when he says something, we all feel better and take a breath and think: Maybe we can go into overtime and win this thing. He’s unbelievable.”
Horford claims his words were few as the Wells Fargo Center crew swept confetti off the court following the premature paper shower that rained down after Marco Belinelli’s game-tying 21-footer at the fourth-quarter buzzer.
“I didn’t really have to say much,” he said.
“I think we all understood what was at stake. I always try to stay in the moment as much as I can. I want the guys to just keep that focus and enjoy these moments. We really just try to stay focused on each play.”
The Celtics went into overtime and emerged with a 101-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers plus a 3-0 lead in the second-round, best-of-seven series.
The Celtics can finish “the process” in Game 4 tomorrow by eliminating a Sixers team that Las Vegas continues to list as the favorite.
The underdog status is understandable considering this was the Celtics’ first road win since March 28 against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, breaking a six-game road skid that included all three first-round playoff games in Milwaukee.
Horford kept a series sweep possible when he picked off a inbounds pass from Ben Simmons to Joel Embiid, gathered the loose ball and drove the floor, drawing a foul on Embiid. He hit a pair of free throws with three seconds to play for the game’s final points.
Belinelli had another chance for heroics, but missed a desperation 3-point launch from 30 feet, and the Celtics became the first team in the league this year to survive an opponent’s confetti shower.
Horford’s numbers — 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, three blocks, including two on Embiid — were, as usual, deceptively modest. But he bonded every other member of this young team together.
“Al is our leader,” said rookie Jayson Tatum. “He’s been in the playoffs every year, so he’s been in every situation possible. He’s always making sure we’re in the right situations, and we know we can look toward him to make the right play. He’s in there battling and it’s tough down there.”
Though Horford escaped without a foul — something pointed out by a disapproving Embiid — the Celtics overall topped the foul count in the game. Aron Baynes, who absorbed most of Embiid’s 22-point fury, finished with five fouls. Marcus Smart fouled out with 41.2 seconds left in regulation.
But when the confetti came down — Belinelli’s foot was clearly on the line — something pushed the Celtics further.
“I’ve seen crazier things that happened. This win just was the confetti for us. So we’ll take it like that,” said Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics scored the last seven points of overtime in the final 55.4 seconds, starting with Tatum’s second drive in a 27-second span. An Embiid turnover created a 1-for-2 trip to the line by Horford.
Marcus Morris rebounded a Simmons miss, and the Celtics called a timeout with 8.4 seconds left and Philly up, 98-97. Stevens called another timeout when Morris was unable to inbound the ball over Embiid, leading to the biggest inbounds play of the season.
The second time was a charm as Morris lobbed to Horford, who sealed off Robert Covington for position under the basket and made the layup for a 99-98 lead with 5.5 seconds left.
“That man Brad Stevens is a guru,” said Morris. “He might have the best outof-bounds plays I’ve ever seen. He called the switch and knew it was going to happen.”
On the defensive side, Horford jumped in front of Simmons’ inbounds pass for his decisive theft.
Sixers coach Brett Brown remained unconvinced.
“Teams that are down 3-0 have a record of (0-129),” Brown said. “Think about that. Just think about that number. The number to me, 0, happens more out of spirit than talent. Like there’s a breaking point we
‘That man Brad Stevens is a guru. He might have the best out of bounds plays I’ve ever seen.’ — MARCUS MORRIS
all have and I believe that if we can maintain our spirit, why couldn’t we be the one and I mean that.”