Did Horford troll Draymond, Dubs fans with Game 1 celebrations? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Al Horford is the Boston Celtics’ elder statesman, but he’s not above having a little fun.
Horford, who turned 36 on Friday, made the most of his NBA Finals debut Thursday night, scoring a team-high 26 points while setting a Finals record with six made 3-pointers to power Boston’s 120-108 victory in Game 1.
As the Celtics wrapped up the win, ABC’s broadcast showed Horford blowing a kiss toward the Chase Center crowd in a move that certainly could be interpreted as trolling.
We wouldn’t put that past Horford, who isn’t shy about interacting with fans. But Horford’s sister, Anna, pointed out that her brother may have just been showing his wife and young son some love.
Horford enjoyed some more family time after the game, bringing his son Ean with him to his postgame press conference while soaking up the first NBA Finals trip of his 15-year NBA career.
“Just grateful to be in this position,” Horford said. “God has put me in this position, and it’s something that I embrace and I’m excited about.”
Even if Horford wasn’t toying with Warriors fans, it does appear he enjoyed himself at Draymond Green’s expense. After adding to the Celtics’ late lead with a hoop-and-harm in the final minute, Horford busted out Green’s patented double-flex celebration.
Green hit the Celtics with his own flex after an and-one earlier in the game (at the 14-second mark in the video below), and Horford apparently didn’t forget it.
Horford isn’t a huge trash-talker, but he still plays with a competitive fire, as Celtics fans saw after his dunk on Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the postseason. That fire fueled a historic performance when the C’s needed it most: Horford scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter Thursday.
Game 2 is set for Sunday at Chase Center at 6 p.m. PT.
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