Again in 2018, Joel Embiid was requested in regards to the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. His response instantly went viral. “It’s not a rivalry,” Embiid mentioned. “The at all times kick our a%#.”
In what appeared like a response to their struggles towards Boston, Philadelphia signed Horford away from the Celtics in the summertime of 2019. Sadly for the 76ers, the match didn’t work out, and the connection between Horford and town rapidly soured. He was traded to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder after only one yr with the group earlier than ending up again in Boston and after watching Horford gasoline a comeback in Philly final night time, you’d must say that the rivalry, regardless of what Embiid says, is alive and nicely.
Cheers rained down all through Wells Fargo Middle on Saturday night time because the 76ers leaped out to a 15-point lead over the Celtics. However the cheers rapidly turned to jeers as Horford single-handedly dismantled Philadelphia’s lead within the third quarter, draining 4 threes within the span of three minutes.
“I prefer it,” Horford mentioned when requested in regards to the crowd’s fixed trash discuss. “I take it as respect. I wasn’t having my finest recreation offensively [and] I really feel like that sort of acquired me going.”
At one level, Horford hit a 3 within the nook and instantly turned to some followers sitting courtside. As he was working again on protection, the normally mild-mannered huge man was speaking smack with a giant grin on his face.
As an alternative of getting mad, Horford used the jeers to get even, virtually as if his less-than-stellar expertise in Philadelphia fuels him to take the 76ers down any probability he will get. And with 15 factors on 5 made threes, all of which coming at essential factors in Boston’s win, Horford made positive to get the final chortle this time round.
“Man, Al was big, proper?” mentioned Celtics star Jayson Tatum. “He’s the explanation why we got here again within the recreation. We had been down 15, I don’t assume he had scored but, and I feel he hit 4 threes in that third quarter and catapult[ed] that run to go as much as begin the fourth.”
Horford’s big-time third quarter elevated Boston at a time when it seemed as if all hope was misplaced. Tatum’s struggles (7-of-17 on the night time) had contributed to a 15-point third-quarter lead for Philadelphia, however simply when it appeared just like the 76ers had been able to put a bow on the sport, they eased up.
“We relaxed,” Joel Embiid defined. “Al made a few big threes. And Tatum acquired, he acquired somewhat bit entering into that third quarter, too. Earlier than that, he was not superb. And clearly, being up 15, I felt like we simply relaxed.”
Because the driving power behind Boston’s comeback, Horford’s run shot a bolt of vitality by way of your complete Celtics roster. Down 13 within the third quarter, three Horford triples helped reduce the result in 4 within the blink of a watch. They had been a part of a 43-18 Boston run that noticed the sport flip on its head.
His vitality was clear as day, working up and down the courtroom with a swagger just like the one he performed with in final yr’s postseason. However regardless of the additional punch he delivered to this recreation, Horford nonetheless denied having any additional oomph taking part in the 76ers. Nevertheless, he couldn’t assist however let a refined grin slip by way of while sustaining his persistently cool composure.
“Not additional motivation. It’s simply enjoyable,” Horford mentioned. “It’s a enjoyable setting. They usually’re a very good group, and these are the kind of video games that you just wish to be part of.”
