Horford delivers Game 5 masterpiece, propels C's back to the Eastern Conference Finals

Veteran Al Horford (22 points, six made 3's) is the catalyst that sparks Boston to series-clinching Game 5 win over the heavily undermanned Cavaliers.

The Celtics got the best of Al Horford when it mattered most, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

BOSTON — Al Horford has been a topic of discussion for much of this second-round series against Cleveland.

The five-time All-Star has been, in a word, bad, for most of the playoffs. It was to the point where the Cavs were blatantly intentional in looking to generate offense from whoever Horford was tasked with defending.

But here’s the thing about Horford.

As much as his poor play has dominated conversations about him in this series at some point the other ‘P’ word - pride - would kick in.

And Horford’s timing, Wednesday’s series-clinching Game 5 matchup, would indeed serve as Horford’s breakout game.

Horford, who will be 38 years old next month, was the catalyst that sparked Boston to a series-clinching 113-98 win.

Boston moves on to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season and awaits the winner of the New York-Indiana series.