Boston Celtics: Why Al Horford dunked on and elbowed the ‘Greek Freak’

The Boston Celtics got the game of Al Horford’s life during Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Horford gave the Cs 30 points and eight rebounds on 80% shooting from the field and 5/7 shooting beyond the arc.

It was apropos and most necessary for the continuation of this series. It also helped create one of the great highlights of the 2022 NBA postseason so far.

With the lead at two with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Horford took a Marcus Smart feed from the top of the key and drove past Giannis Antetokounmpo in a straight line to the hoop, throwing a one-handed dunk down before adding some extra chin music via his left elbow.

Here was the unreal jam, one we’ll be talking about for a very long time:

What inspired Boston Celtics big man Al Horford to dunk on/elbow Giannis Antetokounmpo

Horford’s highlight followed an earlier slam on Horford from Antetokounmpo that was also accompanied by extra curricular comments.

Horford explained that Antetokounmpo’s trash talk ignited his own behavior, which resulted in a technical and not a flagrant foul because it occurred after the whistle was blown:

When it is all said and done, history won’t remember Horford’s dirty play, but instead how great he was the whole game. Marcus Smart, the Boston Celtics’ reigning Defensive Player of the Year, saluted the veteran in a supportive tweet postgame:

Game 5 now has even more juice as the 2-2 series shifts back to the T.D. Garden.