Celtics’ Al Horford’s impact goes beyond his 30 points to beat Bucks in Game 4: ‘He’s one of the best vets we’ve ever had’

MILWAUKEE — There’s a certain luxury Ime Udoka gets when Al Horford’s on his team. He’s the veteran on a relatively young team. He knows the grind of the season. He knows what it takes to succeed in the postseason.

There are times, Udoka said, when the coaches come back to the Celtics’ huddle during a timeout and Horford’s already telling the guys to calm down, stay composed. The C’s needed all of those sage veteran vibes from Horford for Game 4 everywhere on the court.

That’s where Horford’s impact is seen most — not just in the important 30 points he scored Monday, but the off-court leadership and steady energy he brings. And that’s the type of piece a contender needs for a deep postseason run.

“We love Al,” Marcus Smart said. “He’s one of the best vets we’ve ever had. The best vet I’ve ever had. He comes in and it never changes with him. Things going bad or good, he’s going to be him, and nine times out of 10, it’s going to work out in our favor.”

Horford was the Celtics’ best player in a crucial 116-108 win Monday to tie up the Eastern Conference semifinals 2-2 against the Bucks. His efficiency was sparkling at 11-for-14 from the field. His fire was on full display when he dunked on Giannis Antetokounmpo and got some revenge from earlier in the game.

It’s that steady presence that has kept the Celtics composed through the entire season, starting all the way at training camp. There were plenty of doubts about Horford’s abilities coming into this year as he looked to rehab his value after two lost seasons. First was a dud in Philadelphia because of a faulty fit. Then he spent last year with the young Thunder before he was asked to sit because he played too much winning basketball.

The Celtics will take that: This year has been Horford’s redemption arc. Even in his 15th season, Horford can still bring it. The extended rest last season helped, but Horford said he’s done everything he can to keep his conditioning on point.

“That’s from sitting at home,” Horford said of his performance. “That’s from watching the playoffs. That’s from not knowing what my future was holding and really just hoping to have an opportunity to be in this type of environment.”

Horford, 35, only has so many more chances in his career to get a ring as a contributor. The Celtics provide that opportunity; the team needs him, too. He’s a tone-setter for the team — as Jayson Tatum said, “when Al is playing with passion like that, everybody has to follow.”

As the Celtics look to down the defending champs, Horford’s offensive impact will continue to be key. His defense is already well-documented, guarding the likes of Antetokounmpo on a consistent basis. But the Celtics can utilize him to punish the Bucks on any possession.

That’s where Horford’s shooting is so valuable. When Brook Lopez is guarding Horford, the Celtics can just run a pick-and-pop to get Horford an open 3-pointer. The Bucks are playing drop coverage with Lopez, and Horford’s made Milwaukee pay by knocking down 9-of-14 3-pointers over the past two games.

That’s just who Horford is. His versatility allows the Celtics to tinker with lineups and matchups as he spaces the floor. If the Bucks don’t make adjustments, Horford can shoot the Celtics out of trouble, much like he did Monday.

“I remember coming in my rookie year and seeing Al Horford,” Tatum said. “I’ve been seeing him play my whole life, and it was great to see somebody taking care of their body. Just be the ultimate professional, the ultimate teammate and just all about the right things. Nobody can ever say anything bad about Al.”

It wasn’t just that Horford scored 30 points to match Tatum’s totals. He delivered when the Celtics needed him most. On the road. In a crucial Game 4. With Jaylen Brown nursing five fouls. Everything was going wrong for the C’s in the third quarter as they slowly unraveled. But it was still just a seven-point game heading into the fourth quarter.

That’s when Horford gathered the C’s and put them on his back in the fourth. And that was all the breathing room the Celtics needed as they snatched home-court advantage against the Bucks. They have a chance to bury the Bucks and they’ll keep up with Horford’s pace if he keeps shooting and playing like Monday.

“We all understood the importance of this game,” Horford said. “And we felt that, at the end of Game 3, we were in a position to win the game and we didn’t. I was just really just locked in. I understood the moment, what we needed to do as a group and just come out and then really just did whatever it took tonight. It was one of those types of nights.”

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