Al Horford Drops Bombshell Message to Jayson Tatum and Coach Joe Mazzulla Ahead of Game 2

The Boston Celtics reminded the basketball world why nobody wants to face them in the playoffs with their 103-86 Game 1 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The team is so deep that it won handily without its stars going off, as Jayson Tatum had just 17 points (8-22 FG, 1-8 3 PT) and Jaylen Brown had 16 (6-14 FG, 0-2 3 PT).

Derrick White (30 points) and Payton Pritchard (19) led the way for Boston. The latter player is the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year this season.

Tatum and head coach Joe Mazzulla went viral when Mazzulla told his star to “get up” without a trainer’s help after he fell to the ground. The 2023 All-Star Game head coach later clarified why he did that, via ClutchPoints’ Daniel Donabedian.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, head coach Joe Mazzulla Governor Wyc Grousbeck and forward Jayson Tatum.

Bob DeChiara-Imagn

“Love,” he said. “It all starts with love…I appreciate who he is as a competitor.”

Al Horford supported Mazzulla’s comment, via Donabedian.

“The team has taken up after Joe, and the way that he is. We want to play hard, we want to compete,” the 38-year-old said. “That’s the mindset that we carry. Joe is competitive, he’s as competitive as we are. We’re all in this together. We’re out there competing, and we all want the same thing for our group.”

Horford averaged nine points on 42.3 percent shooting (36.3 percent 3 PT) with 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the regular season. The Florida alum tallied five points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3 PT) with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 25 minutes off the bench on Sunday.