The Boston Celtics demolished the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday, 14 May 2023. Dominican basketball lovers were glued to the game following Dominican basketball star Al Horford.
US sports commentators highlighted that Al Horford did an excellent job guarding Philadelphia Sixers Joel Embiid, the star player of the Philadelphia team in game seven of the playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. The Boston Globe highlighted in its coverage of the game that Al Horford shadowed every move Embiid made.
The Boston Globe reported: “Joel Embiid, recently crowned league MVP, struggled to score while being guarded primarily by Al Horford. He finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. James Harden was nowhere to be found, adding just 9 points in 41 minutes.”
The Sixers had gotten off to a good start in the game, but then could not get their act together to stop Celtics’ star player Jayson Tatum. Tatum set a record 51 points for a game seven. It was a comeback for Tatum, who had a bad day during game six. This time, the Celtics would end the 7th game with 24 points more than the Sixers (112-88).
Boston Globe reported: “One game ago, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was stumbling through one of the worst games of his career, putting his team on the brink of a stunning elimination against the 76ers. But Tatum regrouped and saved the Celtics before it was too late, and with brimming confidence and a clean slate Sunday, he ensured that no late-game heroics would be needed.”
This time the third quarter would be disastrous for the Sixers and a delight for the home ground at the Boston Celtics’ TD Garden arena. The Celtics delivered a devastating 21-3 third-quarter run to seize control of the game, and never relinquished it. The Sixers were held to just 10 points in the third quarter. Boston scored 33.
The Celtics will now play Miami Heat. The first of seven game will be on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at Boston’s TD Garden arena. The seventh game is scheduled for 29 May. This is Boston’s third Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Miami Heat in the past four seasons.
Read more:
Boston Globe
Highlights of Al Horford in the game
Philadelphia Inquirer
Diario Libre
15 May 2023