Celtics' Tatum and Brown Lead Late-Season Surge

Tatum records triple-double, Brown scores 43 points in win over Heat

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:24am

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The Boston Celtics continued their late-season surge with a dominant 147-129 win over the Miami Heat, led by Jayson Tatum's triple-double and Jaylen Brown's 43-point performance. Tatum recorded 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists, while Brown shot 17-of-29 from the field and made 4 three-pointers. The Celtics set a franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter, with Sam Hauser and Brown leading the way. Despite a Heat comeback attempt in the third quarter, the Celtics were able to fend them off and cruise to the victory.

Why it matters

The Celtics' recent surge has quieted concerns about how Tatum would fit back into the team's successful formula after his return from injury. The team has now won 10 of 12 games with Tatum in the lineup, showing they can thrive with their star player back on the court.

The details

Tatum recorded his first triple-double since returning from a torn Achilles, falling just one rebound shy of a career high. The Celtics built a big lead early, setting a franchise record with 53 first-quarter points on 20-of-28 shooting, including 11-of-15 from three-point range. Brown led the way with 20 points in the opening quarter. Despite a Heat comeback attempt in the third quarter, Tatum took over in the fourth to seal the victory.

  • The Celtics have gone 10-2 in Tatum's first 12 games back from injury.
  • Tatum recorded his fifth career regular-season triple-double on Wednesday night.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward, who returned from a torn Achilles earlier this season and has helped lead the team's late-season surge.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' other star guard, who scored a game-high 43 points on 17-of-29 shooting, including 4 three-pointers.

Joe Mazzulla

The Celtics' head coach, who praised Tatum's well-rounded performance and ability to impact the game in different ways.

Sam Hauser

The Celtics' reserve guard, who scored 17 points in the first quarter on 6-of-6 shooting, including 5 three-pointers.

Derrick White

The Celtics' guard, who had a highlight-reel hustle play to force a missed shot at the end of the first half.

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What they’re saying

“To me, it just goes back to (how) success can look different every night. I think it's interesting, at the beginning of the game, he came out at the seven-minute mark, the game hadn't found him yet. And then, he goes back in and he has five (points), five (rebounds) and three (assists). So, he just did a great job rebounding and drawing 2-on-1s there, and then the game kind of started to find him.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach

“So, it's going after the game, going to make things happen, which I think he has done a great job of since he's been back. And then, the game found him, and he took advantage of those opportunities. So, it's going to look different every night, and tonight it was just a well-balanced attack by him on both ends of the floor.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach

What’s next

The Celtics will look to continue their late-season surge as they prepare for the playoffs, where they will aim to make a deep run and potentially capture an NBA championship.

The takeaway

The Celtics have proven they can thrive with Tatum back in the lineup, quieting any concerns about team chemistry and hierarchy. Their balanced scoring attack and defensive intensity have them poised for a strong playoff push as they seek to win their first NBA title since 2008.