Horford posted two points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven rebounds, four assists and one block across 31 minutes during Monday's 122-112 loss to the Pacers.
Horford's usage has spiked during Kristaps Porzingis' (calf) absence, but his tenure in the starting lineup has been rocky. Through five starts, he's reached double-digit scoring only once, and a 15-rebound explosion against the Hawks makes his 7.4 per-game rebound average more impressive than it appears.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Drops season-high 20 against Sixers
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Horford recorded 20 points (7-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal across 33 minutes during Friday's 125-119 victory over the 76ers.
With Kristaps Porzingis (calf) missing his third straight game, Horford got another start and responded with a season-high scoring effort. The 37-year-old has scored in double digits only five times this season, but those performances have all come within his last eight games -- a stretch in which he's averaging 10.8 points, 7.3 boards, 3.5 assists, 2.1 threes and 1.6 blocks while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 44.7 percent from beyond the arc.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Dominates in blowout win
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Horford recorded 16 points (6-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt), nine rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals over 28 minutes during Tuesday's 124-97 victory over Chicago.
Horford retained his spot in the starting lineup, filling in admirably for Kristaps Porzingis (calf). The veteran Horford turned back the clock, proving once again just how important he is to the Celtics. While Porzingis isn't slated to miss significant time, Horford is a clear must-roster player until we get word that his teammate is returning.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Will start Friday
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Horford will start Friday's game against the Magic, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe reports.
Horford will slide into the starting lineup due to Jrue Holiday (ankle) being unavailable. This will be Horford's fourth start of the year. He's averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game across his previous three starts.
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Celtics' Al Horford: All-around production off bench
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Horford ended with 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, six assists and one block over 31 minutes during Wednesday's 119-116 win over the Bucks.
Horford missed the Celtics' previous contest for rest purposes, but he returned to action Wednesday and looked spry. The veteran recorded a season-high six dimes and finished with at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists for the first time during the campaign. Horford's fantasy value has taken a hit with the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, but the former is certainly still capable of putting up solid numbers when called upon.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Will play Wednesday
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Horford (rest) isn't listed on the Celtics' injury report for Wednesday's game against the Bucks, John Karalis of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.
After playing 22 minutes during Sunday's win over Memphis, Horford took the night off Monday. However, as expected, he'll return to action Wednesday. The Celtics will have everyone available, so Horford should come off the bench. As a reserve this season (nine games), Horford has averaged 5.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.7 minutes.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Won't play Monday
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Horford won't play Monday against the Hornets for rest purposes, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.
Horford played 22 minutes during Sunday's win over Memphis, but he'll take a seat for the second half of Boston's back-to-back set. The veteran will presumably sit out at least one game of most back-to-backs this season, which he also did last year. Derrick White (personal) is also unavailable Monday, so Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Oshae Brissett and Luke Kornet are all candidates for increased roles.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Cleared to play Friday
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Horford (toe) is available for Friday's game against the Raptors, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.
As expected, Horford has been upgraded from probable to available and will play Friday despite dealing with a left big toe sprain. With Kristaps Porzingis (knee) sidelined, Horford started Wednesday's win over the Sixers, but Porzingis will be back in action versus Toronto and should reclaim his starting gig, which would send Horford to his usual bench role. Across seven games as a reserve this season, Horford has averaged 4.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Likely to play Friday
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Horford is listed as probable for Friday's game versus the Raptors due to a left big toe sprain.
It's unclear when Horford suffered his injury, but it's unlikely to keep him out of Friday's contest. With Kristaps Porzingis (knee) questionable, Horford could be in line for another start against Toronto.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Racks up five blocks
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Horford logged 14 points (5-9 FG, 4-8 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists and five blocks in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 117-107 win over the 76ers.
Horford joined the starting lineup for the third time this season Wednesday with Kristaps Porzingis (knee) sidelined. Horford performed well on both ends of the court with his increased playing time, and he scored in double figures for the first time this season while also racking up a season-high five blocks. The 37-year-old's production will likely regress to the mean once Porzingis is back in action, but the veteran proved Wednesday that he still can perform at a high level when given ample opportunities.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Entering first unit
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Horford will start Wednesday's game against the 76ers, Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports.
Horford will make his third start of 2023 due to Kristaps Porzingis (knee) being sidelined. In his other two starts, Horford has logged 36 and 30 minutes. However, he averaged just 5.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals in those contests.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Good to go Saturday
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Horford (knee) is available for Saturday's game versus the Raptors, Marc D'Amico of the Celtics' official site reports.
Horford will return to the lineup Saturday after missing the first leg of Boston's back-to-back due to right knee injury management. The veteran big man is averaging 5.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 24.1 minutes across his first seven appearances this season.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Ruled out Friday
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Horford has been ruled out for Friday's game against Brooklyn due to right knee injury management, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.
Horford didn't play in both legs of back-to-back sets last season, and he'll be unavailable for the first half of the Celtics' back-to-back Friday. It seems likely that he'll be back in action for Saturday's game against Toronto.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Returns to bench
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Horford isn't in the starting five for Wednesday's game versus the 76ers, Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports.
With Derrick White (personal) returning from his two-game absence, Horford will move back to the bench. Horford is averaging 5.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.5 minutes across his four bench appearances this season.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Mediocre in start
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Horford accumulated eight points (4-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 30 minutes during Saturday's 124-114 victory over the Nets.
Horford moved into the starting lineup with Derrick White (personal reasons) inactive. Logging a season-high 30 minutes, Horford matched his season-high eight points. The 37-year-old shouldn't be expected to deliver more than Saturday's output on a nightly basis.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Moves to starting lineup
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Horford will start Saturday against the Nets with Derrick White (personal) out, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Horford will boost the frontcourt with his presence, although the exact matchups remain to be seen. Horford is averaging 5.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 19.3 minutes per game this season. This will be his first start of the campaign.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Plays 26 minutes off bench
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Horford amassed eight points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3Pt), seven rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 108-104 win over the Knicks.
Big Al had not come off the bench since his 2019-20 season in Philadelphia. But at 37 years of age and with a star-studded Celtics roster, the timing feels appropriate for Horford to reduce his minutes as a reserve. He still played 26 minutes in the season debut, which led all reserves. Boston has a concerning lack of depth, so it will rely on Horford to be productive. But the Celtics could also repeat last season's policy of resting Horford on the second night of back-to-backs. The Celtics now return to Boston for their home opener Friday night versus the Heat.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Will come off bench
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Horford said he will come off the bench Wednesday against the Knicks, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
Horford was rested in the preseason finale this past Thursday, but he's fully healthy entering the regular season. Though Horford has started in every game that he's played each of the past three seasons, he'll move to the bench to begin the 2023-24 campaign with the Celtics bringing in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and sending out Marcus Smart in the offseason. The Celtics don't have much frontcourt depth beyond Porzingis, so bringing Horford off the bench makes sense. He's still expected to play a key role for Boston this season, though expect a drop in the 30.5 minutes per game in 2022-23.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Resting Thursday
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Horford (rest) didn't travel with the Celtics ahead of Thursday's preseason finale against Charlotte, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe reports.
Horford suited up for three of the first four preseason matchups this year but will have a chance to rest with just under a week remaining until the start of the regular season. He averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game during the preseason.
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Celtics' Al Horford: Returns to bench
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Horford will come off the bench for Tuesday's preseason game against the Knicks, Brian Robb of The Springfield Republican reports.
Horford's sixth-man role is emblematic of his role to start the season. Coach Joe Mazzulla noted that all regulars will get extra usage Tuesday, but Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis represent the starting lineup.
