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Former Gator Al Horford Explodes in Game One of NBA Finals

By Will Thomas

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have had an incredible run through the playoffs so far, and former Gator Al Horford is a large reason why. He’s averaging 12 points a game, with a high of 30 points in Boston’s Game 4 matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Despite not scoring 30, Horford may have had his best overall performance last night in Game One of the NBA Finals.

He had 26 points and 6 rebounds, to go along with 3 assists, a steal, and a +/- of +9.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1532573373120843779?s=20&t=KWZ0sLugRx8kvHJ9c5HPng

Horford also saw what Steph Curry did in the first quarter of the game, making 6 threes and totaling 21 points, and decided he would try and mimic Curry’s numbers, as he went 6-8 from 3 point range.

What matters even more than the amount of 3’s that Horford made was the timing of them. With 5:10 left in the 4th quarter, Horford made a 3 to give Boston their first lead of the second half.

He made a second on the following possession to spark the Celtics onto a 17-0 run, virtually ending the game.

Al scored or assisted on 14 Boston points in the 6 minutes he was in during the 4th quarter, and was the source of energy the team needed to close out game one’s comeback victory.

Horford was one of 4 former Gators to make it to the Conference Finals with their NBA teams, along with Dorian Finney-Smith (Dallas), Udonis Haslem (Miami), and his opponent in the Finals Chris Chiozza (Golden State).

It’s safe to say that Horford has had the greatest impact out of all the former Gators who made it that far. Not only has he been a consistent piece of Boston’s rotation, but he supplies them with some much needed energy to keep pushing them through the playoff gauntlet.

If Boston gets the Game One version of Al Horford all series, they’ll have another banner in the rafters soon enough.

Keep up with all things Gators here.

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