White, Brown Fuel Fourth-Quarter Surge as Celtics Snap Skid Against Depleted Heat 129-116
Some wins feel like a statement, and there are wins that feel like a collective exhale. For the Boston Celtics on Friday night, this was undoubtedly the latter.
Coming off a frustrating two-game slide where the offense looked stagnant and the energy flat, the Celtics needed a spark. They had an explosion. Behind a season-high 33 points from Derrick White and a masterful all-around performance from Jaylen Brown, Boston finally broke loose in the final frame to bury the Miami Heat, 129-116.
It wasn’t always pretty—first halves against Miami rarely are—but the finish was a reminder of just how lethal this Boston offense can be when the ball is moving, and the perimeter is open.
Derrick White puts the Celtics on his back
If there is a barometer for the Celtics’ success this season, it might just be the aggression of Derrick White. On Friday, White didn’t just take what the defense gave him; he took the game over.
Tying a career-high with nine 3-pointers, White was the stabilizing force every time Miami threatened to make things interesting. He finished 11-of-20 from the field, but it was his timely shooting in the fourth quarter that broke Miami’s back. With the Heat hanging around, White buried a stepback bank shot from deep that felt like the dagger, pushing the lead to double digits.
White’s 33 points weren’t empty calories. In a game where the Celtics struggled early to find a rhythm, White provided the spacing that allowed the rest of the offense to breathe. When he is shooting with that level of confidence, Boston becomes nearly impossible to defend.
Jaylen Brown anchors the Celtics’ attack
While White provided the fireworks from deep, Jaylen Brown provided the muscle. Brown fell just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
What stood out most wasn’t the scoring, but the patience. Facing a Heat zone defense designed to clutter the paint and force mistakes, Brown remained disciplined. He attacked the glass ferociously—an area where Boston struggled early—and found shooters like Sam Hauser in the corners when the defense collapsed.
Speaking of Hauser, the sharpshooter was vital off the bench. In a key stretch to open the fourth quarter, Hauser knocked down back-to-back threes, including a running pull-up in transition that brought the Garden crowd to its feet. His 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting were the perfect complement to the White and Brown show.
A tale of two halves for the Celtics
For the first 24 minutes, this looked like it was going to be another one of those nights. The Heat, known for their ability to muddy up a game, dragged the Celtics into a grind. The score was knotted at 58-58 at halftime, largely because Boston couldn’t secure a rebound.
Miami pounded the offensive glass in the first half, grabbing 11 offensive boards and converting them into 17 second-chance points. It was a concerning trend for a Boston team that has occasionally had lapses in physical toughness.
However, the second half was a different story. The Celtics tightened the screws defensively, holding Miami to just 39% shooting for the game. More importantly, they limited the Heat to just seven second-chance points after the break. Once the rebounding stabilized, Boston’s transition offense took over, leading to a decisive 20-7 run in the fourth quarter that turned a tight contest into a rout.
The Depleted Heat run out of gas
You have to give credit to Erik Spoelstra’s squad. Playing with a roster decimated by injuries—missing Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Nikola Jovic—the Heat relied on a patchwork lineup that simply ran out of bodies.
Miami had only 10 active players, but they fought valiantly behind Kel’el Ware. The big man was a problem in the paint, posting 24 points and 14 rebounds, feasting on Boston’s interior defense early on. Rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, thrust into his first career start, also showed zero fear, dropping 17 points and hitting five threes.
But in the NBA, depth matters. As the game wore on, the Celtics’ talent disparity became too much to overcome. While Miami was searching for answers deep on their bench, Boston was bringing in fresh legs to hit 21 three-pointers on nearly 49% shooting from deep.
What this win means for the Celtics
This wasn’t a perfect 48 minutes, but it was the response Joe Mazzulla needed to see. The ball movement was crisp (25 assists), the shooting was elite, and when it came time to close the door, the Celtics slammed it shut.
Boston improved to 53.7% shooting from the field, a stark contrast to their recent struggles. By snapping the losing streak, the Celtics regain a bit of momentum heading into the weekend. If White continues to shoot like this and Brown continues to facilitate at a high level, the Celtics remain the team to beat in the East.
