The Boston Celtics just took a pivotal 116-108 win in Game 4 of the ongoing second-round series between them and the Milwaukee Bucks. The win allowed the Celtics to tie the series up at 2 wins apiece, with the series going back to Boston for Game 5.
The game will be remembered as the Al Horford game after his late explosion saw him be the most valuable Celtic on the floor. He was trying to guard Giannis, scored multiple times with him as a primary defender, and galvanized the C’s to keep pushing until they had the win.
Jayson Tatum had a great performance to end the game as well, while Jrue Holiday failed to step up in Khris Middleton’s absence. NBA fans on the internet are reacting to the reigning champions looking in danger with 4 games played in the second round.
Gonna have to get one more in Boston. pic.twitter.com/V2gC4RzQMb
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 10, 2022
Bucks plays this 4th quarter:
1) "Giannis, just go."
2) "Brook, dont move."
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 10, 2022
AL HORFORD MY GOODNESS 😤 pic.twitter.com/rWoi69x7NI
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 10, 2022
This is where the Bucks f*cked up 😂 I know that look… He was pissed.
pic.twitter.com/rYFn45zb61
— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) May 10, 2022
The Al Horford game.
— Jon Wallach (@KenGriffeyRules) May 10, 2022
Al Horford needs an award for his post season so far https://t.co/uftEpgBBja
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 10, 2022
4Q points:
28 — Tatum and Horford
28 — Bucks pic.twitter.com/bGBTJ8SE9p
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 10, 2022
Al Horford after dropping 30 on the Bucks in Game 4 pic.twitter.com/vlyfNFz3R5
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 10, 2022
Al Horford wasn't lying when he looked at Giannis and said ok, damn he responded.
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 10, 2022
The Celtics scored 41 points when Al Horford set a screen in the pick-and-roll, per @SecondSpectrum. Horford set a season-high 28 screens tonight that led to a shot, foul, or turnover, so that's an incredible 1.4 points per screen. Maybe we'll see the Bucks switch it in Game 5.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 10, 2022
Giannis the only player ever to display this level of dominance while hitting you with a dad joke running down the court.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 7, 2022
Giannis was a +1 tonight.
Jrue was a -23.
Giannis played 10 more seconds than Jrue.
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 10, 2022
Outside Tatum and Horford both ended with 30 points on the night, and both Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown ended with 18 points. The Celtics’ team-oriented play is catching the Bucks off-guard, as they are trying to play through their two stars in Giannis and Holiday. The lack of a natural scorer like Khris Middleton showed in this game.
Game 5 in Boston will be crucial for the Bucks, as they can’t afford to go down 3-2 while also being undermanned with arguably the second-best player on the team not playing. Giannis has been dominating as he normally does, but this game proved that they need more options around him.
If the Bucks can make it past the Celtics, there may be a chance we see Middleton come back and make this Bucks team more dangerous. But with the way the momentum is swinging in favor of Boston, the Bucks will have to come extra prepared to the TD Garden in two days for Game 5.
