Celtics rally from 22-point deficit to edge Heat, 98-96

Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard lead Boston's comeback in Friday night thriller

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Boston Celtics overcame a 22-point halftime deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 98-96 on Friday night. Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Payton Pritchard added 24 as the Celtics rallied in the second half, with Derrick White hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minutes. Nikola Vucevic had a double-double in his Celtics debut, while Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell led the Heat with 26 and 24 points respectively.

Why it matters

The Celtics' comeback win over the Heat showcases the team's resilience and ability to battle back from large deficits, an important quality as they push for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The game also marked the debut of new Celtics acquisition Nikola Vucevic, who provides additional frontcourt depth and scoring punch.

The details

The Heat jumped out to a 15-2 lead and led by as many as 22 points in the first half, but the Celtics chipped away in the third quarter, going on a 25-7 run to cut the deficit to single digits. Derrick White's 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining gave the Celtics the lead for good, as they held on for the 98-96 victory.

  • The Celtics trailed 59-38 at halftime.
  • Boston outscored Miami 25-7 over the final 7:06 of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 67-58.
  • White's go-ahead 3-pointer came with 1:31 left in the fourth quarter.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A Celtics guard who scored a team-high 29 points in the comeback win.

Payton Pritchard

A Celtics guard who scored 24 points off the bench to spark the rally.

Derrick White

A Celtics guard who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minutes.

Nikola Vucevic

A newly acquired Celtics forward who had a double-double in his debut with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Andrew Wiggins

A Heat forward who led all scorers with 26 points in the losing effort.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on this comeback win when they host the Knicks on Sunday, while the Heat will try to bounce back on the road against the Wizards.

The takeaway

The Celtics' ability to rally from a large deficit and secure a victory over a top Eastern Conference opponent demonstrates their resilience and potential to make a deep playoff run this season.