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Al Horford opens up on how he ended up in protocols ahead of Game 1 vs. the Miami Heat

The Boston Celtics needed Al Horford in a big way for Game 2 of their East finals series against the Miami Heat, and the Florida product delivered, helping buttress Boston on both ends on the way to a 127-102 blowout that evened the series at 1-1. But it nearly didn’t happen, with Horford clearing the league’s health and safety protocols just hours before tipoff on Thursday.

Considerable confusion surrounded what exactly had happened to put the Boston big man in the protocols to begin with, given the Celtics’ policy of keeping such matters close to the vest and news of several members of the team’s traveling party testing positive breaking about the same time.

After Boston’s victory over Miami, Horford opened up about the cause of his entry into the protocols, sharing how he decided to do the responsible thing and get tested upon feeling out of sorts.

“I felt a little off,” he explained, “and felt like I needed to get tested.”

“Tuesday, we got the news, and then I subsequently got tested again and again (until) I was able to get cleared. Definitely a lot of emotions; through it all, I just tried to stay locked in, doing my part as best that I could.”

“I’m happy that I was able to be out here with the guys tonight,” he added.

While a glance at the box score might not tell you the full story of Horford’s return on Boston’s crucial Game 2 win over the Heat with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and as many assists.

But his impact on both ends in the game on Thursday as it typically tends to far exceeded counting stats, complimenting the game of big man Robert Williams while helping hold Miami center Bam Adebayo to just 6 points and 9 rebounds.

For some, it might sound absurd to risk missing postseason contests in a testing regime that has become mostly voluntary outside of visible symptoms with players.

But for the Celtics’ elder statesman, risking the health of his teammates and other people around him simply wasn’t worth it — and it seems the decision to get that test could have very well headed off a disaster of epic proportions in the end.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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