Celtics Storm Back from 21 Down to Edge Heat in Vucevic’s Debut
For two quarters, the Boston Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket from deep. One-for-20 from beyond the arc in the first half, trailing by 21 at the break, and looking every bit like a team still figuring things out. But then the third quarter happened - and with it, one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the Celtics’ season.
Boston rallied to a gritty 98-96 win over the Miami Heat in a game that had all the markings of a blowout early. Instead, it became a showcase of resilience, timely shot-making, and a promising debut from their newest addition, Nikola Vucevic.
A Brutal First Half
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Celtics were ice cold to start. Miami jumped out to a 13-2 lead just three minutes in, and Boston’s offense looked stuck in the mud.
They opened 1-for-6 from the field and missed their first three shots from deep. The Heat, meanwhile, were finding their rhythm early, hitting seven of their first 15 from three and building a 42-22 lead midway through the second quarter.
Jaylen Brown, who had just two points in the first quarter, came alive in the second with 15. But outside of him, the Celtics couldn’t get much going. They shot a painful 1-for-20 from three in the first half and trailed 59-38 at the break.
Vucevic Makes His Presence Felt
Amid the early struggles, Nikola Vucevic checked in and gave fans a glimpse of what he can bring to this team. His passing out of the high post was sharp - a couple of slick feeds led directly to Celtics buckets.
While his defense wasn’t perfect (Bam Adebayo knocked down some uncharacteristic threes), Vucevic’s offensive impact was immediate. He finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in his Celtics debut, providing a steadying presence when the game was still slipping away.
The Double-Big Lineup Stumbles
Boston went with the same double-big starting lineup from earlier in the week - Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, Luka Garza, and Neemias Queta - but it didn’t click. The spacing was off, and the Heat took advantage. Garza’s lack of perimeter gravity allowed Miami to clog the paint, and Queta was forced into uncomfortable defensive matchups on the perimeter, including several possessions guarding Davion Mitchell, who took him off the dribble with ease.
That look may have worked in previous games, but Friday night, it was clear the formula needed tweaking - and the Celtics made the adjustment.
A Third-Quarter Avalanche
Boston came out of the locker room looking like a different team. They ditched the double-big lineup and ramped up the tempo. Suddenly, the shots started falling, the ball was moving, and the defense tightened up.
Down 67-49 midway through the third, the Celtics flipped the switch. They went on an 18-3 run to cut the deficit to 70-67, with Vucevic right in the middle of it - back-to-back layups and a pair of free throws brought the game within a possession.
Jaylen Brown continued to lead the charge, eventually finishing with 29 points. The Celtics outscored the Heat 36-15 in the third quarter, erasing a 21-point hole and tying the game heading into the fourth. Norman Powell’s buzzer-beater kept things even at 74, but the momentum had clearly shifted.
Pritchard Ignites the Fourth
Payton Pritchard took the baton in the final frame. He scored 10 of Boston’s first 14 points in the fourth, giving the Celtics a much-needed scoring punch off the bench. His energy was contagious, and his shot-making gave Boston the edge in a game that remained tight until the final buzzer.
With under two minutes to play, Jaylen Brown won a jump ball against Bam Adebayo, leading to a Derrick White three that gave Boston a 98-96 lead - the final points of the night.
Defensive Stands Seal the Win
The final moments were tense. Brown was called for an offensive foul with 40 seconds left after catching Andrew Wiggins with an elbow. Joe Mazzulla challenged the call, but it stood.
On the ensuing possession, Derrick White came up huge with a block on Davion Mitchell’s drive. Boston had a chance to ice the game, but White’s jumper was just off, giving Miami one last shot.
The Heat got the ball to Wiggins, who drove and found a wide-open Mitchell in the corner. It was a clean look - maybe too clean - but the shot rimmed out. Adebayo tipped the rebound out of bounds, and the Celtics inbounded the ball with 0.7 seconds left to secure the win.
Final Box and Takeaways
- Jaylen Brown: 29 points, including a dominant second and third quarter stretch
- Payton Pritchard: 24 points off the bench, sparking the fourth-quarter surge
- Nikola Vucevic: 11 points, 12 rebounds, and a +17 plus-minus in his Celtics debut
- Baylor Scheierman: Quiet on the stat sheet but led the team in plus-minus at +17
- Team Shooting: Boston shot 42% from the field and 28% from three; Miami shot 42% and 33% from deep
This was a win that showed the Celtics’ depth, adaptability, and mental toughness. After an ugly first half, they regrouped, adjusted, and clawed their way back against a tough Miami team. Vucevic’s debut was promising, Pritchard gave them a jolt, and Brown reminded everyone why he’s the heartbeat of this squad when Tatum is out.
Next up: a Sunday afternoon matchup at TD Garden against the Knicks - just in time to get the game in before Super Bowl kickoff.