BOSTON -- In a thrilling game that showcased the resilience of the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown netted an impressive 29 points while teammate Payton Pritchard contributed 24 points, leading the Celtics to complete their most significant comeback of the season. Overcoming a daunting 22-point deficit, they triumphed over the Miami Heat with a final score of 98-96 on Friday night.
Derrick White played a pivotal role in securing the victory, sinking a crucial three-pointer from the corner with just 1:31 left on the clock, which ultimately defined the final score for the Celtics, who are now riding a five-game winning streak. Although White's shooting was off at 6 of 20, he still managed to contribute 21 points to the team's efforts.
Nikola Vucevic, playing his first game with the Celtics after being acquired at the trade deadline, delivered a solid performance with a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics dramatically improved their shooting from beyond the arc, making 9 of their last 15 attempts from three-point range after a dismal start where they missed 20 of their initial 21 shots.
The Heat had a golden opportunity to clinch the game in regulation, but Davion Mitchell's three-point attempt from the corner fell short with only 2.7 seconds remaining. Andrew Wiggins led the scoring for the Heat with 26 points, while All-Star Norman Powell added 24 points to his name.
Miami wasted no time establishing its dominance early in the game, quickly racing to a 15-2 lead and even extending it to a staggering 22 points before halftime, heading into the locker room with a commanding 59-38 advantage. The Celtics struggled in the first half, shooting only 28%, but everything changed in the third quarter.
As the Heat held a 67-49 lead, Boston launched a stunning comeback, outscoring Miami 25-7 in the last 7:06 of the third quarter. White and Pritchard ignited this surge with consecutive three-pointers, and Pritchard followed up with another three after a timeout, narrowing Miami’s lead to 67-58.
White provided Boston with its first lead of the game by converting two free throws that broke a 72-72 deadlock with just 9.1 seconds remaining in the third quarter; however, Powell’s layup at the buzzer tied the game again at 74-74 as they entered the final quarter.
Vucevic received a warm welcome from the TD Garden crowd upon his debut, being cheered with chants of "Voooch!" as he made notable contributions during the Celtics’ third-quarter rally.
With this victory, Boston has now swept the season series against Miami, having won all three encounters this year.
Looking ahead, the Heat will face the Washington Wizards on Sunday, while the Celtics are set to host the New York Knicks on the same day.
