Boston Celtics’ Al Horford Achieves Amazing Feat in Game 5 That Only LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Has Ever Done

Jayson Tatum led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals on 9-of-16 shooting. However, Al Horford took most of the praise, as he turned back the clock with a vintage performance.

The 37-year-old center recorded 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and six three-pointers made on 8-of-15 shooting from the field in 35 minutes of action.

“Tonight you saw his gift. His gift is just passion, inspiration, toughness, competitive nature,” Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said about Horford via Jared Weiss on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Grateful for Al. They left him open all series, and he had a tough shooting couple of days. It was an honor to coach him.”

“Whatever the team needs, Al Horford will do it,” added Derrick White.

Al Horford has come alive for the Boston Celtics

Before Game 5, Al Horford wasn’t in great form this postseason. Against the Miami Heat in the first round, he only averaged 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. In the first four games in the second round, Horford never shot above 45 percent from the field and was 4-of-22 from three-point land.

Now, he joins LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players who are at least 37 years old to tally a 20-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist playoff game in NBA history, according to Stathead.

“It feels great because we won,” said Horford, who will turn 38 in June. “But I’m happy because I was able to help the team win this game. We have to give Cleveland credit. They were depleted and they just did not quit. They really pushed us to the brink.”