Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was played under difficult circumstances for Al Horford. ESPN Deportes first reported that the grandfather of the Boston Celtics big man, José Reynoso Núñez, passed away at 81 on Thursday, a day before the Heat forced a seventh game with a 111-103 win at TD Garden.
Source: Jake Levin @ NBC Sports
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
I am all in on the Celtics tonight, get Thunder legend Al Horford to the Finals. – 6:47 PM
I am all in on the Celtics tonight, get Thunder legend Al Horford to the Finals. – 6:47 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
New on BSJ: It’s a do-or-die Game 7 for a trip to the Finals – Do it for Al Horford
bostonsportsjournal.com/2022/05/29/kar… – 11:42 AM
New on BSJ: It’s a do-or-die Game 7 for a trip to the Finals – Do it for Al Horford
bostonsportsjournal.com/2022/05/29/kar… – 11:42 AM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ime Udoka said that Rob Williams wasn’t dealing with anything physical. He said that the team was trying to manage Williams’ minutes, and him not coming back in was the result of Al Horford making big plays late in the game. – 11:06 AM
Ime Udoka said that Rob Williams wasn’t dealing with anything physical. He said that the team was trying to manage Williams’ minutes, and him not coming back in was the result of Al Horford making big plays late in the game. – 11:06 AM
Dan Favale @danfavale
nba tracking data will show kyle lowry was the primary defender of al horford on this shot pic.twitter.com/X8YYQpb46R – 11:17 PM
nba tracking data will show kyle lowry was the primary defender of al horford on this shot pic.twitter.com/X8YYQpb46R – 11:17 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Tough bench contest for Al Horford on his 3 pic.twitter.com/qAhVpmtiA3 – 11:16 PM
Tough bench contest for Al Horford on his 3 pic.twitter.com/qAhVpmtiA3 – 11:16 PM
David Locke @DLocke09
Al Horford defense has made Bam irrelevant offensively and Miami needs him desperately – 11:10 PM
Al Horford defense has made Bam irrelevant offensively and Miami needs him desperately – 11:10 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Derrick White has been trying to get that chase the ball handler bringing it up steal against the sideline all half and finally got it in the biggest moment, but then Jaylen bricks both free throws to unravel it as Butler flies in for the 3 point play over Horford. What a game. – 11:10 PM
Derrick White has been trying to get that chase the ball handler bringing it up steal against the sideline all half and finally got it in the biggest moment, but then Jaylen bricks both free throws to unravel it as Butler flies in for the 3 point play over Horford. What a game. – 11:10 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
What a PnR slice from Lowry there
Turned Horford fully
He’s showing up majorly with Butler getting tired a bit it seems – 11:06 PM
What a PnR slice from Lowry there
Turned Horford fully
He’s showing up majorly with Butler getting tired a bit it seems – 11:06 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Tito Horford still look 35…explains why Al Horford still looks 25 – 11:03 PM
Tito Horford still look 35…explains why Al Horford still looks 25 – 11:03 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
White and Horford show their elite BBall IQ there by early in the play, White goes to stand near Horford to pass off the Vincent matchup onto Horford, then Horford immediately runs over to screen for Tatum, knowing Miami will blitz and he can find White on the short roll. – 11:03 PM
White and Horford show their elite BBall IQ there by early in the play, White goes to stand near Horford to pass off the Vincent matchup onto Horford, then Horford immediately runs over to screen for Tatum, knowing Miami will blitz and he can find White on the short roll. – 11:03 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Back-to-back 3’s from Horford an White and Boston is now up 3. 22-12 C’s in the 4th right now. – 11:02 PM
Back-to-back 3’s from Horford an White and Boston is now up 3. 22-12 C’s in the 4th right now. – 11:02 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Al Horford’s first make of the game ties things up with 5:30 to go. – 11:01 PM
Al Horford’s first make of the game ties things up with 5:30 to go. – 11:01 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
It terms of foul trouble, Brown, Horford and PJ Tucker all have four. #Celtics #Heat – 10:39 PM
It terms of foul trouble, Brown, Horford and PJ Tucker all have four. #Celtics #Heat – 10:39 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
It’s incredible how Butler can get a clearout for Horford and just drive under the rim against good single coverage and somehow the Heat can swing it so fast they get a wide-open 3 out of it. Miami is such a fun team. – 10:34 PM
It’s incredible how Butler can get a clearout for Horford and just drive under the rim against good single coverage and somehow the Heat can swing it so fast they get a wide-open 3 out of it. Miami is such a fun team. – 10:34 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Great pass by Horford throwing it to the deep corner to force Smart to slide open and draw the foul on the 3. – 10:13 PM
Great pass by Horford throwing it to the deep corner to force Smart to slide open and draw the foul on the 3. – 10:13 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Four fouls on PJ Tucker.
Marcus Smart gets one to fall and has a chance at a four-point play. Great pass by Al Horford. – 10:12 PM
Four fouls on PJ Tucker.
Marcus Smart gets one to fall and has a chance at a four-point play. Great pass by Al Horford. – 10:12 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Get Horford involved, especially if Strus is guarding him to open possessions. – 10:08 PM
Get Horford involved, especially if Strus is guarding him to open possessions. – 10:08 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Halftime foul trouble:
Boston
Al Horford – 3
Grant Williams – 3
Miami
P.J. Tucker – 3
Caleb Martin – 3 – 10:00 PM
Halftime foul trouble:
Boston
Al Horford – 3
Grant Williams – 3
Miami
P.J. Tucker – 3
Caleb Martin – 3 – 10:00 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Three fouls now on both Al Horford and Grant Williams for Boston. – 9:30 PM
Three fouls now on both Al Horford and Grant Williams for Boston. – 9:30 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Horford and Grant both with 3 fouls now. These are actually the Heat’s first free throws of the half. – 9:29 PM
Horford and Grant both with 3 fouls now. These are actually the Heat’s first free throws of the half. – 9:29 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Tucker replaces Bam at the 5 while Robinson is out there and Boston goes on a quick 9-3 run. Horford is drawing a ton of bodies through the paint as the small Heat lineup has to collapse and it’s leaving room for Tatum to cut to the deep paint and find shots in his wheel house. – 9:25 PM
Tucker replaces Bam at the 5 while Robinson is out there and Boston goes on a quick 9-3 run. Horford is drawing a ton of bodies through the paint as the small Heat lineup has to collapse and it’s leaving room for Tatum to cut to the deep paint and find shots in his wheel house. – 9:25 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
The Heat are off to a dream start: a quick lead (12-5), forcing Celtics into mistakes (four turnovers already) and Al Horford has two quick fouls. – 8:57 PM
The Heat are off to a dream start: a quick lead (12-5), forcing Celtics into mistakes (four turnovers already) and Al Horford has two quick fouls. – 8:57 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics starters for Game 6:
Robert Williams
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Heat starters:
Bam Adebayo
P.J. Tucker
Jimmy Butler
Max Strus
Kyle Lowry – 8:10 PM
Celtics starters for Game 6:
Robert Williams
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Heat starters:
Bam Adebayo
P.J. Tucker
Jimmy Butler
Max Strus
Kyle Lowry – 8:10 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Heat at Celtics – TD Garden – May 27, 2022 – Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6 Starters
Boston – Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, R. Williams
Miami – Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, PJ Tucker, Bam Adebayo
OUT: Boston: None Miami: Herro pic.twitter.com/fjJxNTLjjK – 8:07 PM
Heat at Celtics – TD Garden – May 27, 2022 – Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6 Starters
Boston – Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, R. Williams
Miami – Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, PJ Tucker, Bam Adebayo
OUT: Boston: None Miami: Herro pic.twitter.com/fjJxNTLjjK – 8:07 PM
Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
Al Horford and Robert Williams III are the first pair of Celtics teammates to each have 10 blocks in a single series since Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins in 2008 1st Round.
Miami has shot only 30% from the field when Horford and Williams are both on the floor in this series. – 9:34 AM
Al Horford and Robert Williams III are the first pair of Celtics teammates to each have 10 blocks in a single series since Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins in 2008 1st Round.
Miami has shot only 30% from the field when Horford and Williams are both on the floor in this series. – 9:34 AM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
☘️🎙 CELTICS TALK POD 🎙☘️
Will Celtics be dancing like @Abby Chin after Game 6? Should Al Horford take home the Larry Bird trophy if they do?
📺 https://t.co/iJ1RuYH6rA
pic.twitter.com/ECUbzIzyrm – 6:53 AM
☘️🎙 CELTICS TALK POD 🎙☘️
Will Celtics be dancing like @Abby Chin after Game 6? Should Al Horford take home the Larry Bird trophy if they do?
📺 https://t.co/iJ1RuYH6rA
pic.twitter.com/ECUbzIzyrm – 6:53 AM
More on this storyline
According to ESPN, Horford traveled separately from his teammates to Game 5 in Miami so that he could be with his family in Atlanta, where Núñez had been spending his final months alongside other family members prior to returning to his native Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. A funeral for Núñez was held Saturday, ESPN reported. -via NBC Sports / May 29, 2022
Marc Stein: Marcus Smart and Robert Williams will play in tonight’s Game 7, Celtics say. -via Twitter @TheSteinLine / May 29, 2022
Coco Gauff is once again in the French Open quarterfinals after she defeated Elise Mertens on Sunday, but tennis is not the only thing on her mind. Gauff is apparently thinking about the NBA playoffs, too. Following her win over Mertens, Gauff decided to give a prediction for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. She took a marker and wrote “Heat in 7” on one of the TV camera lenses. -via Larry Brown Sports / May 29, 2022