Celtics Storm Back from 22 Down to Edge Heat in Thriller at TD Garden
What started as a frustrating night in Boston turned into one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Celtics’ season. Down by 22 points and ice-cold from beyond the arc, the Celtics clawed their way back to a 98-96 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night - a game that had everything from big-time performances to a tense fourth-quarter scuffle.
Let’s start with the moment that had TD Garden buzzing: early in the final quarter, Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez and Miami’s Norman Powell got tangled up chasing a loose ball. Things escalated quickly.
Powell, who was just returning from a three-game absence, got in Gonzalez's face with a heated “What’s up?” before both benches leaned in and officials stepped between them.
No punches, but plenty of fire - and a reminder that these two teams don’t need much to ignite the rivalry.
Now, about that comeback.
Boston’s first half was, in a word, brutal. The Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket from deep, starting 1-for-20 from three and managing just 38 points through two quarters. They were down 42-22 early in the second, and it looked like Miami - even without Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier - was going to run away with it.
The Heat were rolling behind Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo. Wiggins was sharp, dropping 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting while adding six boards and a couple of steals.
Powell looked fresh and aggressive, finishing with 24 points, four assists, and four steals. Adebayo chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds, anchoring Miami’s early dominance.
But then came the third quarter - and the Celtics flipped the script.
Boston outscored Miami 36-15 in a dominant stretch fueled by Jaylen Brown’s relentless attacking and Derrick White’s two-way brilliance. Brown ended the night with 29 points, leading the charge with his usual blend of strength and finesse. White was everywhere - scoring 21, swatting four shots, and hitting a huge three after a steal that tied the game and sent the Garden into a frenzy.
Payton Pritchard was another sparkplug, dropping 24 off the bench and giving Boston the energy it desperately needed. And in his Celtics debut, Nikola Vucevic wasted no time making an impact. The veteran big man posted 11 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes, giving Boston a much-needed presence inside and helping stabilize the second unit.
Speaking of the bench - Baylor Scheierman quietly had one of the most important stat lines of the night. His +17 plus-minus stood out in a game decided by two points. Those are the kinds of contributions that don’t always show up in highlights but win you games.
Hugo Gonzalez had some words for Norman Powell in Celtics-Heat 👀pic.twitter.com/HLPUXKaVfc
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026
Miami didn’t go away quietly. Despite the third-quarter collapse, the Heat kept it close down the stretch.
Adebayo continued to battle, but the bench couldn’t match Boston’s depth. Nikola Jovic went 0-for-5 in just six minutes, and the reserve group of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dru Smith, Simone Fontecchio, and rookie Kel’el Ware offered little resistance.
In the final minute, with Boston clinging to a two-point lead, Miami had its chances. Davion Mitchell missed a pair of looks that could’ve swung the game, and Derrick White sealed the win with a clutch block on Mitchell with just 32 seconds left.
With the win, Boston improves to 34-18 and extends its winning streak to five games. They’ve now taken all three matchups against the Heat this season. Next up: a Sunday showdown with the Knicks at home.
As for Miami, the loss drops them to 27-26. They’ll look to regroup on the road against the Wizards. But after letting a 22-point lead slip away, this one’s going to sting for a while.