Horford delivers Back-to-the-Future performance, helps C's fend off pesky Sixers squad

The veteran big man came up big at both ends of the floor for Boston in keeping the Celtics undefeated record at home (5-0) intact against a Philly squad minus Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Al Horford soars in for two of his 20 points for Boston. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

BOSTON — It was bad enough that the Boston Celtics at full strength were in a one-possession game going into the fourth quarter against a Philadelphia 76ers squad without its top two scorers.

But no Jayson Tatum for the entire fourth quarter?

Tatum was ejected after picking up a second technical foul - an automatic ejection - when he complained about a foul called against him with 2.6 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Not only was he tossed after picking up the second technical foul, but the foul called against him was upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul after Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the call.

So how were the Celtics going to Houdini their way out of this jam without their best player?

Three words - Al freakin’ Horford.