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Al Horford Confirms The Exact Moment That Giannis Pissed Him Off Enough To Inspire A Career-Best Playoff Performance

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Al Horford Confirms Giannis Inspired Career-Best Playoff Performance

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  • The Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
  • The Celtics were led by a 30-point outburst from 35-year-old Al Horford.
  • Horford confirmed that something Giannis did to him “didn’t sit well” and “got him going.”

After trailing for a majority of the game, the Boston Celtics came to life in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks, outscoring the defending champs 43-28 in the final quarter of the game.

The Celtics’ comeback was largely inspired by a career-best playoff performance from veteran forward/center Al Horford, who posted 30 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

While Horford has been solid for the Celtics all postseason, he took his game to another level in the second half of Game 4, leading to his 30-point outburst, the most he’s ever scored in a playoff game during his 15-year NBA career.

Horford’s explosion was so acute, in fact, that you can pinpoint the exact moment that a fire was lit under him: after Giannis mean-mugged him following a third-quarter dunk.

Even Horford’s sister could tell that the moment inspired her brother to raise his game:

Al Horford says Giannis’ Game 4 dunk “got him going”, inspired career-best 30-points in a playoff game

Speaking to reporters after the game, Horford confirmed that Giannis’ actions fired him up, saying that the way Antetokounmpo looked at him after a dunk “didn’t sit well” with him. The 35-year-old would then go on to put up 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter.

“I didn’t make out what he said, but the way he looked at me didn’t sit well with me,” Horford said. “That got me going.”

Horford even got some personal revenge on Giannis has he blew by him for a crucial fourth-quarter jam:

The Bucks and Celtics will resume their crucial Eastern Conference Semifinal series tomorrow night with a crucial Game 5 in Boston. Teams who take a 3-2 in a best-of-7 win the series 85.9 percent of the time, according to ESPN.