Boston Celtics center Al Horford missing Monday’s last-second loss to the Houston Rockets wasn’t the usual sitting out a game due to injury.
Horford was questionable heading into the matchup due to a left big toe sprain, but was deemed available by the Celtics 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
But when the starting lineup was announced, Horford wasn’t in it with Luke Kornet taking his place. The Celtics also never officially ruled Horford out for the game, either.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla tried to give an explanation for Horford’s puzzling absence following Boston’s 114-112 defeat.
“We found out at the start of the game,” Mazzulla told reporters, per the MassLive’s Brian Robb. “(Al) did everything he could to get ready in shootaround, he did everything in his shooting time and right before the game he just didn’t feel comfortable but he did everything he could to play.”
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Horford stayed in his uniform on the bench for the duration of the game, per Robb, only adding to the strange situation — injured players usually wear street clothes while sitting out.
Perhaps Horford could have been available in a dire situation, but Mazzulla never went to him. Instead, Kornet played a season-high 33 minutes while Neemias Queta played 19 and Mazzulla even dusted off Xavier Tillman Sr. for a brief stretch on the floor.
There’s the possibility that Horford’s absence was disciplinary in nature. But there’s no clear indication of that and it seems unlikely since Horford is viewed as a consummate professional not just by the Celtics, but around the league, too.
The Celtics might have just played it safe with Horford and not pushed him as he deals with bumps and bruises. The Celtics can be overly cautious with players at times, especially when it comes to a player like an aging big man in Horford who is in the middle of his 18th NBA season.
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Boston on Tuesday listed Horford as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. That presents Horford with an opportunity to get back on the floor and give his side of the story for why he missed a tough loss to the Rockets.
Featured image via John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images