The Magic did like attacking the rim through cuts and transition buckets. However, Horford along with Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet were there to protect the basket. In their Game 5 win to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the Celtics only allowed 36 points in the paint paired with a 37.5% from the field.

Making his second consecutive start in place of injured guard Jrue Holiday, Horford scored just six points in the hard-fought victory but blocked five Orlando shots, his most in a game since January 2024. Two of those came in the fourth quarter as the Celtics turned a 91-91 tie with four minutes remaining into a nine-point win.