The Boston Celtics are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs, thanks to a huge nights from Jayson Tatum and Al Horford against the Magic in Orlando.

Making his second consecutive start in place of injured guard Jrue Holiday, Horford scored just six points in the hard-fought victory but blocked five Orlando shots, his most in a game since January 2024. Two of those came in the fourth quarter as the Celtics turned a 91-91 tie with four minutes remaining into a nine-point win.

The Boston Celtics have prided themselves on bouncing back all season. So it’s no surprise that after the Celtics dropped Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, they responded with a 107-98 victory in Game 4 of the first-round series.

The Boston Celtics now have a 3-1 series lead over the Orlando Magic, a feat that cannot be attributed to just one player. Although multiple Boston stars should be celebrated, Al Horford needs to be praised because of his defensive prowess.

The Celtics have had their full starting lineup for just one game in the series, as Jayson Tatum missed Game 2 with a bone bruise in his wrist. Veteran big man Al Horford started the last three contests in place of Tatum and Holiday.