Things got heated in Game 2 between the Celtics and Magic when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope collided with Al Horford, sending both players to the floor. Jaylen Brown took exception to the play and confronted Caldwell-Pope, sparking a brief exchange of words.

The drama, which began in Game 1 after Caldwell-Pope's hard foul on Jayson Tatum left the Celtics star with a wrist injury, carried over into Game 2 Wednesday night at TD Garden. Horford had called out Caldwell-Pope for his actions, accusing him of going “at [Tatum] in that way” multiple times. It didn’t take long for Caldwell-Pope to respond — not just with words, but with more physicality.

Midway through the second quarter of Game 2, tempers flared when Horford contested a baseline jumper from Caldwell-Pope, then headed up the floor on a fast break. That’s when Caldwell-Pope appeared to intentionally step into Horford’s path, tripping him and sending both players crashing to the court. Horford quickly sprang to his feet and had to be held back by head coach Joe Mazzulla and teammate Jrue Holiday. Jaylen Brown also had some words for KCP in the aftermath.

The Celtics take a 2-0 series lead over the Magic

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Referee Ed Malloy (14) talks to Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) after he knocked down Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) after colliding with him during the second quarter of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.
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“It was [intentional],” Horford told The Boston Globe. “I was starting to run on the break and he got into me there and impeded my progress.” Officials reviewed the play but ruled it a common foul with no flagrant or technical assessed. Still, the bad blood was hard to ignore.

Caldwell-Pope, who was booed every time he touched the ball, brushed off the growing tension before Game 2, calling the Tatum foul “just playoff basketball.” But his Game 2 performance didn’t help his case — he went just 1-for-9 from the floor and failed to register an impact in Orlando’s 109-100 loss.

Horford, meanwhile, came just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, and played a crucial leadership role on both ends. The series now shifts to Orlando for Game 3 on Friday night, but the Celtics seem to have the mental edge — and a new postseason villain in Caldwell-Pope. Whether this physical tone continues could shape the rest of this heated matchup.