Locked On Celtics: Jaylen Brown Dominates, Celtics Survive Collapse | Al Horford's Mysterious Boston Departure

Host: John Karalis
Date: February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this late-night recap, John Karalis breaks down a wild Boston Celtics win over the Golden State Warriors, where a 34-point lead nearly disappeared. The episode highlights Jaylen Brown’s historic triple-double, the rise of Peyton Pritchard as an essential sixth man, and raves about rookie Hugo Gonzalez’s impressive instincts. John also digs into the mysterious circumstances of Al Horford’s recent departure from Boston and what it could mean for his legacy. This episode blends expert analysis, memorable game moments, fan-favorite gushing, and some speculation about the Celtics' long-term future.

Main Topics & Insights

1. Game Recap: Celtics 128, Warriors 117

[01:20–12:00]

• First Quarter:
  • "The game was back and forth...The Warriors came out super hot. It felt like seven seconds or less—the old Phoenix Suns with Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni. They just put up a ton of shots." (John Karalis, 04:00)
  • Warriors hit 8-of-17 threes in the first quarter.
• Second & Third Quarters:
  • Celtics blew the game open, building a massive 34-point lead behind crisp passing, cutting, and efficient scoring.
  • "Jalen got his triple-double in a matter of 26 minutes. It really felt like the fourth quarter was just going to be total garbage time." (John Karalis, 06:00)
• Fourth Quarter Collapse:
  • Warriors staged an unexpected comeback with a fierce press, cutting the lead dramatically.
  • "Peyton Pritchard said, 'I have not seen a diamond press like that since maybe high school, AAU, maybe college.'" (John Karalis quoting Pritchard, 07:30)
  • The Celtics had to re-insert Jaylen Brown to secure the win, leading to a slightly nervy finish: "That's the worst feeling, especially for Jaylen Brown. You're on the bench, chilling, shoes untied, and suddenly you have to lock back in." (08:20)

2. Offensive Flow & Passing

[12:00–16:30]

• John gushed over Boston's passing and cutting game:
  • "This was the best passing and cutting game I've seen from them maybe all season." (12:25)
  • Stats: Regularly, only 5.3% of Boston's offense is from cuts. In this game, it was 12% of made baskets—over twice as much as usual.
  • Beautiful highlights include a Sam Hauser pass to a cutting Nikola Vucevic ("like a quarterback dumping it to his running back"), and Keita’s backdoor find to Derrick White.
• Emphasis on how cutting creates easier shots and unlocks the drive-and-kick game:
  • "When you cut, you score. If you're not Brown or a high-usage guy, cut and you will score." (13:40)
  • Celtics shot 51.5% FG and 42.5% from three.

3. Jaylen Brown’s Historic Triple-Double

[17:18–20:41]

• Stat Line: 23 points, 15 rebounds, 13 assists in 26 minutes.
• "Brown is the first Celtic since Larry Bird to have at least 15 points and 13 rebounds in a 20-point triple-double." (Citing NBC’s Dick Leip)
• John details Brown's improved floor vision:
  • "He had a pass out to Jordan Walsh in the corner—three levels of defense, and he's patient, reading the whole floor." (18:50)
  • Praised for meaningful rebounding—"not just what’s around him, but outside his zone."
  • "The triple-double was great. The rebounding was incredible... He's getting in there and grabbing like, meaningful boards too." (19:40)
• On Brown’s growth:
  • "He’s almost 30, but he’s still learning and growing as a player. Love that." (19:10)

4. Peyton Pritchard: Sixth Man Legend?

[20:42–24:20]

• Performance: 26 points (10/18 FG, 6/11 from 3), 7 assists, 6 rebounds; hit deep threes in clutch fourth-quarter moments.
• "Pritchard hits those two shots, gets it back up to 18 and gives the Celtics just enough wiggle room." (22:54)
• Pritchard's evolution and role:
  • "He kind of blew off the question after the game about coming off the bench and starting... but the way he makes the most of his minutes, he’s been great." (23:10)
  • John positions Pritchard as a possible Celtics sixth-man legend:
    • "This right here is the building of a legend... as the sixth man, suddenly you start to talk about him in terms of [John] Havlicek and Kevin McHale... this special Celtics sixth-man lineage." (24:05)

5. Individual Performances & Notable Moments

[27:05–32:45]

• Sam Hauser: 16 points, 2 assists; "just having a really nice overall year." (27:15)
• Vucevic & Keda: Vucevic’s floor-spacing worked; Keda struggled with the Warriors' fast pace.
• Jordan Walsh: 7 minutes, hit one shot; "maybe they could have used a little more of him."
• Baylor Scheierman: Had a full-court steal and failed dunk attempt—Derrick White playfully gave him a thumbs-down, "which is a funny moment." (29:00)
• Ron Harper: 12 minutes, confident play.
• Luka Garza: Played just 2 minutes, part of a minus-nine run, “not a great stint.” (30:30)

6. Hugo Gonzalez: Future Star?

[32:45–35:00]

• 12 minutes: 7 points, 4 rebounds.
• John’s Gushing:
  • Raved about Hugo's instincts: "He just finds his way to making great plays...He is reacting. The natural basketball instincts kick in and he makes these plays." (33:20)
  • Detailed a touch-pass, relocation, then an advanced dribble and lefty finish showcasing his fluid athleticism and decision-making ("when he does that stuff, that just hooks me like a drug").
  • Prediction: "Whenever it comes time for Brown and Tatum to hand the reins off to somebody... I think that somebody’s going to be Hugo Gonzalez." (34:00)
  • Sees Gonzalez as a future centerpiece: "He is going to be one of the centerpieces of this next generation of Celtics. Whenever this window closes, he's going to be part of the next window opening." (34:40)

7. Al Horford’s Mysterious Departure

[35:00–38:10]

• Discussed Horford’s brief reunion with the Celtics and his future Hall-of-Fame credentials.
• John speculates on why Horford left, citing Horford’s own words:
  • "He said it was something deeper, which no one really knows what that is. He says he’ll tell somebody someday." (36:20)
  • John's theory: It may have involved Horford teaching his son about NBA business, valuing oneself, and being willing to leave comfort to maximize your worth.
• Porzingis also played and was targeted defensively; Pritchard drove straight at him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Celtics’ offense:
  “When you cut, you score. That’s just—if you’re somewhere on the floor and you’re not a main guy, not Jalen Brown, a high usage guy, cut and you will score more often than not." (13:40)
• On Hugo Gonzalez:
  “When he does that stuff, that just hooks me like a drug. I see it. I see the potential...he’s having fun, he’s hyper competitive… He’s got all the ingredients for the future.” (34:10)
• On Peyton Pritchard:
  “The legend of Pritchard, the sixth man… this right here is the building of a legend.” (24:05)
• On Jaylen Brown’s growth:
  “He’s still learning and growing as a player, so love that. The triple double was great. The rebounding was incredible.” (19:10/19:40)
• On Warriors’ comeback pressure:
  "Peyton Pritchard said, 'I have not seen a diamond press like that since maybe high school, AAU, maybe college.'" (07:30)

Key Timestamps

• 01:20 – Quick game introduction and summary
• 04:00 – Warriors hot start and frantic pace compared to "seven seconds or less" Suns
• 06:00 – Celtics build 34-point lead, Brown’s fast triple-double
• 07:30 – Warriors’ wild press, Pritchard’s quote
• 08:20 – Celtics need to re-insert starters
• 12:25 – Discussion of cutting and passing brilliance
• 13:40 – John’s “when you cut, you score” rule
• 17:18 – Jaylen Brown’s triple-double history and breakdown
• 22:54 – Pritchard’s clutch fourth-quarter threes
• 24:05 – Building the legend of Pritchard the sixth man
• 32:45 – Hugo Gonzalez highlight and future star prediction
• 36:20 – Analysis/speculation on Horford’s departure
• 38:10 – Wrap-up and previewing upcoming Celtics-Lakers Q&A broadcast

Final Thoughts

John Karalis delivers a rich, insightful analysis blending tactical breakdown, advanced stats, and personality-filled anecdotes. From Jaylen Brown and Peyton Pritchard’s individual brilliance to Hugo Gonzalez’s breathtaking flashes, fans are treated to both granular and big-picture takeaways. The host’s speculation about Al Horford's departure adds intrigue, while his calls for fans to join the next live event maintain the passionate, conversational energy that makes Locked On Celtics a must-listen for diehards.

(Ads, intro/outro, and non-content sections have been omitted.)