Celtics Pull Away Late to Defeat Struggling Heat, Clinch Playoff Spot
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points, Jrue Holiday added 25, and the Boston Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a 103-91 victory over the slumping Miami Heat on Friday night.
Derrick White contributed 18 points as Boston knocked down 19 three-pointers. The Celtics outscored Miami 25-14 in the final quarter, and their win—combined with Atlanta’s loss to the Clippers—officially clinched a playoff berth for the defending NBA champions.
The Heat, now in a freefall, suffered their sixth consecutive loss and dropped to a season-low eight games below .500. Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 23 points, while Tyler Herro added 19 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 13.
Boston has dominated Miami this season, holding the Heat to 89, 85, and now 91 points in three double-digit victories. This latest loss capped off a historic low for Miami, as the team endured its first-ever winless homestand of five or more games.
It was also the fourth time this season the Heat scored 14 points or fewer in a fourth quarter—Miami has lost all four of those games.
Key Takeaways
Celtics: Jaylen Brown (right knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (viral illness) were both sidelined. Since the All-Star break, Brown has been following a consistent pattern of playing three games and then sitting one, a routine he has now repeated three times since Feb. 20.
Heat: Miami adjusted its starting lineup, inserting Duncan Robinson for Davion Mitchell and Jaquez for Kel’el Ware. That new five-man unit—including Wiggins, Herro, and Bam Adebayo—had not played a single second together this season before Friday’s game.
Game-Changing Moment
Boston took control early in the fourth quarter with a decisive 10-0 run, flipping a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead with 9:19 remaining.
Stat of the Night
The Celtics wasted no time heating up from beyond the arc, draining four three-pointers in the first 2:27 of the game. The last time Boston reached that mark faster was during a playoff game against Philadelphia on May 5, 2023, when they hit four threes in just 2:25.
What’s Next?
Both teams face back-to-backs on Saturday: Boston travels to Brooklyn to face the Nets, while Miami heads to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.