If you’ve watched any Boston Celtics basketball games this year, you know how impactful of a player Al Horford is.
Heck, you know that even if you only started paying attention to the Celtics during the playoffs. Horford bodied up on defense and made life as miserable as possible for Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks-Celtics series and even chipped in a playoff career-high 30 points during those battles.
But Big Al’s impact was not felt in Boston’s Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to landing in the league’s health and safety protocols prior to the series tipoff.
Now, he is officially back in the lineup for Game 2.
Celtics‘ Al Horford will play in Game 2 vs. Miami tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 19, 2022
The C’s played their worst defensive game of the playoffs and also allowed the most points they have all postseason (118) in the Game 1 loss.
Horford’s presence, along with both teams having a better feel for one another after Game 1, will likely lead to a lower-scoring game. It might be a good idea to take the under 206.5 point total at Tipico Sportsbook. It would also be wise to look at Horford’s 7.5-rebound prop. He’s grabbed at least eight boards in seven straight games and has only pulled in fewer than that in three of the 11 playoff games he’s appeared in this postseason.
Overall, the Celtics are in a more favorable position to steal a road win with Horford and potentially Marcus Smart back in the lineup.
Game 2 should be great.