MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Veteran Al Horford turn back time on Monday night as he led the Boston Celtics to a 117-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. This win marked the Celtics’ ninth consecutive triumph, securing a historic road trip that ended with a flawless 6-0 record — the best in the team’s history.
Horford, at 38 years old, came off the bench to score 26 points. Jayson Tatum contributed significantly with 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. More impressive was the Celtics’ defense, which held the Grizzlies to just 41 points in the second half, allowing Boston to pull away and finish the road trip on a high note.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Horford after the game. “It’s pretty amazing for me to be in this position and I’m just trying to have fun with it and enjoy with my team.” His performance included hitting six three-pointers from Boston’s total of 21, achieving his season-high.
The Grizzlies started strong, leading by as many as 11 points in the first half. However, they lost momentum in the latter part of the game, struggling to compete with Boston’s well-rounded effort. Ja Morant led Memphis with 26 points but was unable to maintain the pace against the relentless Celtics.
The loss for Memphis was crucial as it impacts their positioning in the Western Conference, placing them in a close competition with the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place. The Lakers, who won against the Houston Rockets 104-98, now sit just a game ahead of the Grizzlies. In that victory, LeBron James added a crucial block in the final moments to secure the win.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominance by defeating the Chicago Bulls 145-117, marking their 10th consecutive win. Isaiah Joe led the Thunder scoring with 31 points, contributing to a collective effort where seven players hit double digits.
<p“Everybody has the same goal in mind,” Joe stated. “We know what we want to do at the end of the day, and we know how to get there. We’ve just got to keep stacking days, stacking games.”
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers made a comeback by recovering from a 16-point deficit to edge past the Sacramento Kings 111-109, maintaining their position in the playoffs. Tyrese Haliburton was pivotal with 18 points and 11 assists.
The Los Angeles Clippers, entangled in playoff positioning battles, managed to edge out the Orlando Magic 96-87, thanks to solid performances from Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell.
Lastly, the Miami Heat achieved their fifth consecutive victory, defeating the Wizards 120-94. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro were the stars, scoring 28 and 27 points respectively. This win elevated the Heat to ninth in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Bulls.
