Jayson Tatum Praises Al Horford After Celtics Top 76ers: 'My Favorite Teammate'

Al Horford had 14 points, made 4/8 threes, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked a game-high five shots in the Celtics' win vs. the 76ers on Wednesday.

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Boston redeemed themselves in Philadelphia Wednesday night for the second time in a week, coming away victorious in maybe their biggest win yet. The Celtics, shorthanded without Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, rallied to beat the 76ers 117-107.

The Celtics held Philadelphia to just 22 points in the first quarter, as a potential Joel Embiid roar and a big shift in the Sixers' direction awaited to take place. They did take the lead before the half with a run and momentum swing of their own, but Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford never took their foot off the gas.

Those four led the charge with the help of Luke Kornet, who once again came up big with his activity on the glass and rolled to the rim in crunch time. Sam Hauser continued some of his hot shooting, drawing the start, and some big plays and action on both sides from Svi Mykhailiuk and Dalano Banton.

White was in complete control in the fourth quarter as the team's initiator, making clutch play after clutch play offensively and hitting some of the game's biggest shots. He had 27 on an efficient 7–12 and 4–8 from three. White's five assists were some of the game's most crucial finds for Kornet, as was the turnaround feed to Tatum on the perimeter.

The back-to-back All-NBA first-teamer finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Horford, when the Celtics needed it most, had probably his most impactful game, as he does so commonly against Embiid in the absence of Porzingis, with that typical stellar defense and clutch shot-making.

Finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and three assists, the five-time All-Star was 5-9 from the field and 4-8 from three, with the most emphatic coming in the final quarter. His vintage face-up game was brilliant, as his plus-14 was the second-highest on the team to Holiday's plus-16, with another strong double-double as he got 10 rebounds again.

Following the victory, Tatum once again talked about the appreciation he has for Horford, knowing the impression he has always had on the Celtics. He and many others have always labeled Horford as the ultimate teammate, mentor, and veteran leader through the years. This time, Tatum really brought it back to the early days a bit. He has been on record many times, saying Horford might be the best teammate he has had.

"It was somebody that really took me under their wing," the four-time All-Star said. "I just always remember he would periodically and at random times ask me how I am doing? How am I adjusting? And just how he went about his work. Never late. Always on time Always in the gym. Taking care of his body, and as we've gotten older, our relationship has grown."

The Celtics look to continue their dominance, pushing the win streak to five, when they head to Toronto for their second In-Season Tournament matchup Friday night with the Raptors.

Further Reading

Here's Who's on Celtics Injury Report for Friday's Game vs. Raptors

Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Keys to Celtics Second-Half Turnaround in Win Over 76ers

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Beat 76ers in Their Best Win of Young Season

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Chemistry with Jaylen Brown: 'I Love Playing with Him'

Joe Mazzulla Shares What's 'Far Exceeded My Expectations' of Kristaps Porzingis

Jaylen Brown on Celtics Learning from Losses and Building Chemistry: 'It's a Learning Curve'

From Self Doubt to Celtics History, Jayson Tatum Discusses Journey to 10,000 Points: 'I Didn't Think I Was Good Enough'

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present