Horford, Celtics offer fitting appetizer before Super Bowl
Last-second shot thwarts Portland
BOSTON — Al Horford captured the attention of Boston sports fans even on Super Bowl Sunday.
Horford made a 15-foot fadeaway jumper at the buzzer as the Celtics finished off the Portland Trail Blazers 97-96, giving New England fans a few hours to get home before the Patriots played for the NFL championship.
“Wanted to end the game so we could go watch the Super Bowl,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
Stevens spoke while wearing a Patriots hat. He was joined by Eagles fan and Celtics player Marcus Morris, who sported an Eagles jersey.
“I called game when Al hit the turnaround, just so you know,” Morris said.
Stevens smiled, adding: “Al feels a lot like Tom Brady today, right?”
Several jerseys for Brady and fellow Patriots star Rob Gronkowski were in the crowd at TD Garden. An Eagles fan shown on the Jumbotron repeatedly was booed.
Horford wound up with 22 points and 10 rebounds, helping Boston win its fourth in a row.
“(Stevens) had called a play for Jaylen (Brown), but they were ready for it, so he kept yelling keep the ball, keep the ball,” Horford said. “It’s a shot I work on a lot, and it felt good when it left my hands.”
Damian Lillard shot just 6-for19 but scored Portland’s final eight points, including a 3-point play with 7.2 seconds left to put the Blazers up 96-95.
C.J. Mccollum led the Blazers with 22 points, and Lillard added 21.
“They executed well down the stretch, made some tough shots,” Mccollum said. “Credit them for battling back, and then down the stretch they seemed to match every basket.”
Boston trailed 85-79 with 5:37 to go before going on an 11-0 run, sparked by consecutive 3-pointers from Semi Ojeleye, Jayson Tatum and Horford.
Tatum had 17 points and Brown 16 for the Celtics.
At Oklahoma City, Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Julius Randle 19 for Los Angeles, which has won six of eight. Russell Westbrook scored 36 points and Paul George 26 for Oklahoma City, which lost its fourth in a row.
At New York, Kent Bazemore hit a
Lakers 108, Thunder 104 — Hawks 99, Knicks 96 —
decisive 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left and totaled 19 points to lead Atlanta, which overcame a six-point deficit in the final 2:16. Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 for New York.
At New York, Eric Bledsoe had 28 points and John Henson 19 points and 18 rebounds for Milwaukee, which lost All-star Giannis Antetokounmpo to a twisted right ankle with 7½ minutes left.
At Toronto, Delon Wright scored 15 points for Toronto, which held a 52-19 edge in scoring by reserves while improving to 21-4 at home and handing Memphis its sixth straight road loss.
At Phoenix, Nicolas Batum scored 22 points for Charlotte, which trailed by 21 with 7:53 left in the third quarter. Rookie Josh Jackson scored a career-high 23 points for Phoenix.
Bucks 109, Nets 94 — Raptors 101, Grizzlies 86 — Hornets 115, Suns 110 —