On a night when the Boston Celtics seemed destined for defeat, the TD Garden faithful witnessed an electrifying turnaround that will be remembered for seasons to come. Trailing by as many as 22 points against the Miami Heat, the Celtics clawed back to snatch a dramatic 98-96 victory on Friday, February 6, 2026, marking their biggest comeback of the season and extending their winning streak to five games.
Jaylen Brown led the charge, pouring in 29 points in a performance that set the tone for Boston’s relentless rally. Payton Pritchard, coming off the bench, delivered a scorching 24 points, providing the spark the Celtics so desperately needed. Derrick White, despite struggling with his shot for much of the night, came through in the clutch, draining a corner three-pointer with 1:31 remaining that ultimately decided the contest. White finished with 21 points, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
The Heat, meanwhile, looked in complete control early. Miami opened the game on a 15-2 run and built a commanding 59-38 lead by halftime, leaving Boston reeling and the home crowd restless. Andrew Wiggins was unstoppable for much of the night, tallying 26 points for Miami, while All-Star Norman Powell chipped in 24. The Heat’s defense stifled Boston in the first half, holding the Celtics to just 28% shooting and a woeful 1-for-21 from three-point range.
But basketball, as Celtics fans know well, is a game of runs. The third quarter saw the tide shift dramatically. Down 67-49 with just over seven minutes left in the frame, Boston unleashed a 25-7 blitz to close the quarter, erasing the deficit and tying the game at 74. White and Pritchard ignited the surge with back-to-back threes, and after a timeout, Pritchard buried another triple to cut the lead to single digits. The energy in the Garden was palpable, reaching a fever pitch as White’s free throws gave Boston its first lead of the night, only for Powell to respond with a buzzer-beating layup that sent the game into the fourth quarter deadlocked.
Nikola Vucevic, making his Celtics debut after being acquired at the trade deadline, quickly endeared himself to the Boston faithful. The 35-year-old veteran checked in midway through the first quarter to a warm ovation and chants of “Voooch!” He delivered a steadying presence, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Vucevic’s inside scoring and rebounding were crucial during Boston’s comeback, especially as the Celtics found their shooting touch late, connecting on 9 of their final 15 three-point attempts after the early struggles.
The game’s final moments were as tense as they come. With Boston clinging to a slim lead, Miami had a chance to steal the win in regulation. Davion Mitchell found himself open in the corner for a potential game-winning three-pointer with just 2.7 seconds left, but his shot rimmed out, sending the Celtics and their fans into celebration mode. “We never stopped believing,” said Jaylen Brown after the game, his jersey soaked in sweat but his grin unmistakable. “This team has heart. We know what we’re capable of, and tonight we showed it.”
The victory was not just a testament to Boston’s resilience but also a statement to the rest of the NBA. The Celtics, who entered the night tied with the New York Knicks for the Atlantic Division lead, now stand alone after the Knicks’ eight-game winning streak was snapped by the Detroit Pistons. Boston’s 33-18 record puts them in prime position as the playoff race intensifies, while Miami, at 27-25, remains atop the Southeast Division but will rue a missed opportunity to take down a conference rival on their home floor.
For Miami, the loss was a bitter pill, especially considering their dominance through the first two quarters. The absence of Tyler Herro, sidelined with a toe injury, forced the Heat to lean heavily on Wiggins and Powell, both of whom responded with big nights. Yet, as the Celtics’ defense tightened and their shots finally began to fall, Miami’s offense sputtered. The Heat’s recent form suggested a team capable of contending with the East’s elite, but closing out games on the road has been a persistent issue—they now fall to 11-15 away from home this season.
The Celtics’ resurgence in the third quarter was nothing short of remarkable. Outscoring Miami 36-15 in the period, Boston flipped the script on a night that had started so poorly. “We just kept fighting,” said Derrick White, who not only hit the go-ahead three but also came up with a crucial block in the final minute. “It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way.” The Celtics’ defense deserves its share of credit; after being torched in the first half, Boston held Miami to just 37 points after halftime, ramping up the pressure and forcing tough shots down the stretch.
Boston’s depth was on full display as well. While Brown, Pritchard, and White carried the scoring load, Vucevic’s addition gives the Celtics another dimension—his ability to stretch the floor and battle inside will be invaluable as the postseason approaches. The transition into the lineup looked seamless, with Vucevic’s basketball IQ and veteran leadership evident from his first minutes on the court.
Looking ahead, both teams face quick turnarounds. The Heat will travel to Washington to take on the Wizards on Sunday, hoping to bounce back and shore up their road record. The Celtics, meanwhile, will look to keep their momentum rolling as they host the New York Knicks in what promises to be another pivotal Eastern Conference clash.
This win, Boston’s third in as many meetings with Miami this season, sends a clear message: underestimate the Celtics at your own risk. With the playoffs looming and new faces stepping up, Boston’s blend of star power, grit, and depth makes them a force to be reckoned with in the East. The TD Garden crowd certainly went home happy, having witnessed a comeback for the ages—a reminder that in the NBA, it’s never over until the final buzzer sounds.