Celtics Rally From 22 Points Down to Beat Heat

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

Feb. 6, 2026 at 10:15pm

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The Boston Celtics overcame a 22-point 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, outscoring the Heat 25-7 in the final 7 minutes of the third quarter to take the lead. Derrick White hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final minutes to seal the win for Boston, who have now won all three meetings against Miami this season.

Why it matters

This comeback win showcases the Celtics' resilience and ability to battle back from large deficits, an important trait for a team looking to make a deep playoff run. The victory also keeps Boston firmly in the hunt for a top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The details

The Celtics fell behind early, trailing the Heat 59-38 at halftime. But Boston stormed back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just 3 points heading into the fourth. Derrick White's clutch 3-pointer in the final minutes gave the Celtics the lead for good, as they held on for the 98-96 win. Newly-acquired center Nikola Vucevic had a double-double in his Celtics debut, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

  • The Celtics trailed the Heat 59-38 at halftime on Friday, February 6, 2026.
  • Boston outscored Miami 25-7 in the final 7 minutes of the third quarter to take the lead.
  • Derrick White hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The players

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star guard scored a team-high 29 points to lead Boston's comeback effort.

Payton Pritchard

The Celtics' reserve guard scored 24 points off the bench, including several key 3-pointers during Boston's third-quarter surge.

Derrick White

The Celtics' guard hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minutes to seal the victory for Boston.

Nikola Vucevic

The veteran center, acquired by the Celtics at the trade deadline, recorded a double-double in his Boston debut.

Andrew Wiggins

The Heat's leading scorer, Wiggins poured in a game-high 26 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We just kept fighting and chipping away. I'm proud of the way the guys responded in the second half.”

— Ime Udoka, Celtics Head Coach (Celtics.com)

“This was a big-time win for us. We showed a lot of heart and determination to come back from that big deficit.”

— Jaylen Brown (Boston Globe)

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their push for a top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The takeaway

The Celtics' ability to rally from a large deficit and defeat a quality opponent like the Heat demonstrates their resilience and championship pedigree. This win should give the team confidence as they gear up for the postseason.