The veteran had 24 points, 13 of them at the foul line, and grabbed 12 rebounds in a Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday afternoon.

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

BOSTON – He has by far the most playoff experience of anyone taking part in the 2018 postseason for the Celtics.

Al Horford has played 93 games with the Atlanta Hawks and the Celtics while the other 10 players in uniform for an opening-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks have combined to play 83 games.

So it is only natural that Horford is going to be counted on a lot for the shorthanded Celtics during the postseason.

That was evident in Game 1 against the Bucks on Sunday afternoon when Horford was a presence at both ends of the floor during the Celtics’ remarkable 113-107 overtime victory at the TD Garden.

An aggressive Horford had 24 points, 13 of them coming at the foul line, and grabbed 12 rebounds to go with three blocked shots and two steals in 44:19. And, by the way, he also was the main defender against All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“We’re going to ride Al,’’ said coach Brad Stevens. “He’s been unbelievable in being a facilitator for us all year. He has his moments because of the way that we’re being defended where he gets to be more of a featured scored.

“With where we are now (playing without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward), he’s going to be more of a featured scorer and facilitate and guard Giannis and do everything. He’ll probably run our film session tomorrow. So that’s his job.’’

Horford set an aggressive tone right from the start and was playing closer to the basket than he normally does in order to force Antetokounmpo to defend him there.

While Antetokounmpo had 35 points on 11-for-21 shooting, he did foul out in overtime after missing a free throw with 14.8 seconds left.

Horford was 13 for 14 at the line, the first time he’s attempted double-digit foul shots since Jan. 25, 2013, against the Celtics while with the Hawks.

“We were trying to get me in post-up situations,’’ said Horford. “They did a good job making it difficult for me to get the ball. The way that they were playing me it was forcing me to get closer to the basket, which is fine with me. It was just finding a way to be efficient and help the team.’’

Horford played the final eight minutes of regulation and nearly the entire overtime session. He will have one day to rest up before Game 2 on Tuesday night at the Garden.

“I feel fine,’’ said Horford. “One of the good things throughout the year that coach and the medical staff did was monitor all of our minutes well. I’m tired now. It was a hard game. But I’m fine.

“It’s go time, the time you want to play and be in these kind of games, setting the tone. It all starts at the defensive end and I tried to set the tone on defense and kind of go from there. Doing whatever I can do to help us win, that’s what it’s all about.’’

With so many inexperienced players on the roster, it was in Horford’s hands to set the tone and he did exactly that with both his aggressiveness inside and challenging Antetokounmpo on defense.

“It’s the playoffs,’’ said Marcus Morris. “Al’s a veteran in this league and he understands that. You don’t expect anything less. He does what he does for the team and we need him.’’