Boston basketball fans witnessed a night to remember on February 6, 2026, as the Celtics stormed back from a 22-point deficit to edge out the Miami Heat 98-96 at TD Garden. The victory, Boston’s fifth straight, wasn’t just another tally in the win column—it marked the debut of veteran center Nikola Vucevic, who arrived from Chicago in a trade for Anfernee Simons just one day earlier. In a game that started with frustration and ended in jubilation, the Celtics showcased grit, adaptability, and a growing sense of team chemistry that could shape the rest of their season.
The anticipation was palpable as Vucevic took the court for the first time in green and white. The 35-year-old big man, known for his floor spacing, rebounding, and playmaking, wasted no time making an impact off the bench. He finished with an impressive double-double: 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 28 minutes. Vucevic’s performance was even more notable given the limited time he had to familiarize himself with head coach Joe Mazzulla’s system and his new teammates.
"Talking to coach, he does like to be flexible," Vucevic had said before the game, as reported by Jack Simone. "I told him I was totally open to that… My role [could] be different… That might take some time to adjust to, like tonight, coming off the bench… Different minutes… I’m here to really help in any way." True to his word, Vucevic embraced his role as a reserve, providing stability and veteran savvy to a center rotation that also featured Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.
But the night didn’t start well for Boston. The Celtics’ offense sputtered through the first half, hampered by ice-cold shooting and communication issues as the team tried to integrate Vucevic. Boston opened with its second consecutive double-big lineup—Queta and Garza joined Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Sam Hauser—but the combination quickly faltered. Miami raced to a 25-6 lead, exploiting mismatches and capitalizing on Boston’s sluggish start. By halftime, the Celtics trailed 59-38, their largest deficit of the season, and had made just one of their first 21 three-point attempts.
Coach Mazzulla didn’t mince words about the struggles, admitting, "I thought I kind of put the guys in a tough spot to start the game, just processing all the what-if scenarios… I thought we were just kind of bogged down by those things, and it kind of impacted it. Once we just simplified it, and once the game went on and we were able to see those reads, I thought the guys did a much better job." The halftime break proved to be a turning point, as Boston regrouped and returned to the court with renewed energy and focus.
The third quarter belonged to the Celtics. They outscored the Heat 36-15, erasing the deficit in breathtaking fashion. Jaylen Brown, who led all scorers with 29 points despite seven turnovers, set the tone with a driving dunk and a much-needed three-pointer that finally snapped Boston’s perimeter drought. Payton Pritchard, who had moved to a sixth-man role following Simons’ departure, was the catalyst. Pritchard poured in 19 of his 24 points in the second half, including nine in the third quarter alone. His aggressive drives, timely threes, and a memorable and-one play ignited the TD Garden crowd and fueled Boston’s comeback.
Pritchard’s connection with Vucevic was evident, especially in the pick-and-roll game. "We're gonna get better at it," Pritchard told BostonSportsJournal.com. "Like you said, it's very new still. But he's a mismatch problem when you switch, so we got to utilize him, and we'll get better and better at it." Vucevic echoed the sentiment, praising the high basketball IQ of his new teammates and looking forward to developing even more chemistry on the court.
While Pritchard and Vucevic were grabbing headlines, Derrick White quietly put together a stellar all-around performance. White scored 21 points on 6-for-20 shooting, but his true value shone on the defensive end. He blocked four shots—including a critical one in the final minute—and hit the go-ahead corner three-pointer with 1:31 remaining. White’s ability to disrupt Miami’s offense and make clutch plays was instrumental in Boston’s turnaround.
The Celtics’ defensive adjustments in the second half were key. They tightened up on the glass, limited the Heat’s fastbreak opportunities, and reduced fouls that had plagued them in the opening quarters. Miami’s 14 fastbreak points in the first half dwindled to just three after halftime, and the Heat’s offensive rhythm evaporated under Boston’s relentless pressure. Pritchard, in particular, took pride in locking down Miami’s Norman Powell, holding him scoreless on direct matchups during the pivotal third quarter.
Boston’s comeback was a team effort, with contributions from up and down the roster. Baylor Scheierman, though not a headline-grabber, provided crucial hustle plays, spacing, and rebounding that helped swing momentum. The Celtics’ bench outperformed expectations, especially considering the recent roster shakeup and the challenge of integrating Vucevic on the fly.
Coach Mazzulla reflected on the chaotic but ultimately successful night: "You take a look at the first half, you're down… I think we're in a great spot. We're only down 21. It should be 35 or 40… Then I think the second piece of that is, all right, is it effort? Is it execution? Is it a little combination of both? Are we playing really good and not getting the result that we want on offense? Are we playing good defense, and they're hitting the shots that we want them to take? How do you balance that?" Mazzulla credited his players’ maturity and resilience for staying composed and chipping away at the deficit instead of panicking.
With the win, the Celtics improved to 34-18 and maintained a one-game lead over the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a marquee matinee against the Knicks on Super Bowl Sunday and a highly anticipated matchup versus the Bulls—Vucevic’s former team—looming just before the All-Star break.
Looking ahead, Vucevic’s expiring contract adds another layer of intrigue. He’ll be eager to prove his worth and earn a longer-term role in Boston, even if it means accepting a reduced salary. For now, though, Celtics fans can savor a signature comeback, a promising debut, and the sense that this team, despite new faces and early adversity, is very much in the fight for Eastern Conference supremacy.