Boston leans on its depth, steadies late, and claws back from 19 down against the Heat
The Celtics (25-15) didn’t reclaim Thursday night’s game in Miami with precision - they seized it with resolve.
After sleepwalking through the opening minutes and falling behind by 19, Boston relied on its depth, rediscovered its edge late, and escaped with a 119-114 win over the Heat (21-20). While not a flawless effort, it proved instructive for a team that hadn’t faced much turbulence in months.
A dominant fourth quarter, record-setting bench play, and timely star responses powered a 21-9 closing run, ended a two-game skid, and pulled Boston into a tie with the Knicks for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Here are four takeaways from Thursday night’s comeback:
1. The Anfernee Simons Game:
If the Celtics didn’t have Anfernee Simons on Thursday night, this game likely never reaches the fourth quarter, making his early contributions all the more crucial.
With Boston’s starting guards quiet for most of the night, Simons provided the only consistent offense early. He scored 11 points in the first quarter to halt Miami’s surge and continued to deliver as the Celtics searched for rhythm.
Then came the takeover. Simons poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter - including 11 of Boston’s first 15 in the frame - for a season-high 39.
The outburst set a franchise record for points off the bench and marked the turning point.
The thought of trading Simons has officially left the building, folks.
Jan 15, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) is defended by Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (0) during the second half at Kaseya Center. (Rhona Wise/Imagn Images)2. Celtics’ Resilience Showed Up On Thursday:
Boston hasn’t faced many moments this season where things felt genuinely uncomfortable.
Thursday qualified.
After losing three of four entering the night, the Celtics found themselves down big, on the road, and playing without much defensive cohesion. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard struggled to generate offense, and the Heat controlled the pace for most of the evening.
Boston didn’t unravel. Instead, it leaned on its bench, tightened its defense late, and executed in the clutch. The Celtics stayed calm - a season-long trait - and steadily worked back.
3. Brown Steadied The Ship:
Brown’s night started unevenly.
Returning from a back issue, he committed four first-half turnovers and played only 13 minutes, sitting out the final 7:43 before the break.
But after the extended rest, he ignited his game.
Brown attacked assertively in the third quarter, pouring in 15 points and reestablishing himself as a downhill force. He totaled 27 points, 21 after halftime, and played a crucial role in Boston’s late-game offense alongside Simons.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was necessary.
There’s a reason why this guy is a true candidate for MVP.
4. Starters Played Poorly From the Jump:
None of the late-game heroics would’ve been required if Boston had started sharply.
The Heat opened with a 28-9 blitz in the first seven minutes, exploiting Boston’s sluggish defense in transition and on the perimeter. Miami consistently drove to the rim and found open shooters, while the Celtics failed to match their effort.
Boston eventually corrected course, but the early lapses forced them into a game of catch-up all night. It was a reminder that even for a veteran group, focus still matters - especially on the road.
The Celtics will aim to correct those slow starts when their road trip continues Saturday night in Atlanta (20-23).
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.