Celtics’ Al Horford, Magic Guard Get Into On-Court Incident In Game 2

Celtics center Al Horford called out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s hard foul on Jayson Tatum in Boston’s Game 1 win.

And tempers flared between Caldwell-Pope and Horford in the second quarter of Game 2 Wednesday night after the Orlando Magic tripped the Celtics veteran.

The incident occurred after Horford successfully contested a baseline jumper from Caldwell-Pope. As Horford made his way up the court, Caldwell-Pope appeared to intentionally get in his way before the two got tangled and both went sprawling to the floor.

Horford was none too pleased with the contact by Caldwell-Pope and quickly had to be held back by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and teammate Jrue Holiday. While Horford walked away from the midcourt fracas, Jaylen Brown appeared to have a few words for Caldwell-Pope.

The officials reviewed the play, but did not issue a flagrant foul to Caldwell-Pope or assess Horford with a technical. It was ruled just a common foul.

Horford on Tuesday voiced his displeasure with Caldwell-Pope’s flagrant foul on Tatum, believing a line was crossed.

“Yeah, there was something extra,” Horford told reporters, per ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “There was a lot. It was the second or third time that — especially (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) — went at him in that way.”

Caldwell-Pope, who received plenty of boos from Celtics fans in attendance Wednesday, responded to Horford’s remarks prior to Game 2.

“Just a foul. Playoff basketball,” Caldwell-Pope told reporters, Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. “That’s all I gotta say on it. I didn’t hear any comments (from Horford). I’m not worried about any comments. At the end of the day, this is how I play, this is how I’ve been playing in playoff basketball. A hard foul is a hard foul. I really don’t care what anybody says. I’m still gonna play how I play, how I’m supposed to play for my team at the end of the day.”

Caldwell-Pope’s actions toward Horford certainly seem to suggest that he did hear about Horford’s comments. And Caldwell-Pope might end up regretting pushing Horford’s buttons for the rest of the series.