Triggered by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Al Horford scores playoff career-high 30 points to rescue Boston Celtics in Game 4

MILWAUKEE — Al Horford knew he'd get his revenge.

After Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked on him early in the third quarter Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar received a technical foul for saying something in Horford's direction. As Horford walked back up the court, he just nodded his head and said «OK» as he looked in Antetokounmpo's direction.

«I didn't make out what he said, but the way he looked at me didn't sit well with me,» Horford said. «That got me going.»

The next quarter, Horford returned the favor. He caught the ball on the perimeter and hit Antetokounmpo with a pump fake. Antetokounmpo bit and Horford drove to his right, elevating at the rim for a slam over the two-time MVP, letting out a large scream in the process.

After Giannis was T'd-up with 10:56 left in the third quarter, the Celtics outscored the Bucks 68-54 and Al Horford outscored Antetokounmpo 19-17. A look at how the game unfolded from then on:

It was the turning point Boston needed as it outplayed Milwaukee down the stretch in a 116-108 Game 4 victory. The series, now tied at 2, heads back to Boston on Wednesday night.

Horford drew a technical foul following his dunk, as he inadvertently hit Antetokounmpo in the face in an immediate celebration that had him screaming from sideline to sideline. Milwaukee held a 10-point lead late in the third quarter, but Horford's slam put an emphatic stamp on a 10-0 run that put the Celtics back in the game, and ultimately in control.

«The playoffs are emotional, very intense,» Horford said. «Tonight, things weren't going our way. Things were hard there in the third for a while. (Marcus) Smart kept talking in the huddle and kept telling us to stay with it. Definitely just a lot of emotions at that point.