Boston Celtics: 3 guys that saved the season in the 4th quarter of Game 4

Boston Celtics star No. 1: Al Horford

Was the moment in this picture the one that saved Boston’s season? Maybe, but who really knows. All we know is that Giannis Antetokounmpo made a big mistake taunting Al Horford midway through the third quarter after an emphatic dunk. Antetokounmpo was laughing then, but it turns out Horford would have the last laugh.

Horford ended up putting together what will almost certainly go down as the greatest quarter of basketball of his career. He hit all six shots he took from the field for 16 points, and almost single-handedly willed Boston back into the game on his own. Every time Boston needed a big play, Horford delivered.

When Boston was looking to tie the game at 80, Horford blew past Antetokounmpo and rose up for an emphatic and-one slam. Horford would give Boston their first lead in the fourth moments later on a three-point make, and he helped the Celtics get their lead back with another three moments later. “Big Al” capped off his scintilating individual effort with an and-one hook shot in the paint that would allow the C’s to build up a four point lead that they wouldn’t let go of.

Horford dragged the Celtics back into the game before he handed off the baton to Tatum, and eventually Smart too. But without him there’s no win. Every big shot Boston needed, Horford hit. The only comparable performance in recent memory is Kelly Olynyk’s Game 7 heroics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals from five years ago.

And if Boston ends up doing more damage in the postseason, who knows where Horford’s magnificant fourth quarter performance will end up in NBA history.