Celts rally from 22-point deficit to edge Heat, 98-96

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 29 points while Payton Pritchard scored 24 points to help the Boston Celtics make their biggest comeback of the season, rallying from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 98-96 on Friday night.

Derrick White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:31 remaining that provided the Celtics — winners of five straight — the final margin. White shot 6 of 20 but ended up with 21 points.

Nikola Vucevic had a double-double in his first game with the Celtics, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Boston made 9 of its final 15 shots from 3 after missing 20 of 21 from deep to start the game.

Miami had a chance to win it in regulation, but Davion Mitchell missed a 3-pointer from the corner with 2.7 seconds remaining. Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with 26 points while All-Star Norman Powell had 24 points.

Miami wasted little time serving notice that it would be a long first half for Boston. The Heat jumped out to a 15-2 lead and led by as many 22 points before pulling into halftime up 59-38. The Celtics shot just 28% during the first two quarters, but things changed in the third quarter.

Up 67-49, Miami watched as Boston outscored the visitors 25-7 over the final 7:06 of the third quarter. White and Pritchard started the comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers, then Pritchard hit a 3 coming out of a timeout that cut Miami’s lead to 67-58.

White gave Boston its first lead of the game when he knocked down two free throws that snapped a 72-all score with 9.1 seconds left in the third, but Powell’s layup at the buzzer knotted it at 74-74 heading into the fourth.

Acquired at the trade deadline, Vucevic received a nice hand from the TD Garden crowd when the veteran forward checked in at 8:58 of the first quarter. The 35-year-old was serenaded with chants of “Voooch!” after finishing inside for a pair of hoops as part of the Celtics’ third-quarter surge.

Boston has now won all three meetings against Miami.

Heat: at Washington on Sunday.

Celtics: host Knicks on Sunday.

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Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks to shoot over Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) is pressured by Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) on a drive to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 105-99 on Friday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Ryan Rollins added 22 points for the Bucks, and Bobby Portis had 21 after missing two games because of a bruised hip.

Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 22 points and Pascal Siakam had 19.

Indiana rattled off a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull to 91-87 with 4:11 remaining. On the Pacers' next possession, Ben Sheppard missed a 3-pointer that would have made it a one-possession game.

Kevin Porter Jr. then hit a driving layup to start a 7-0 run that gave Milwaukee some breathing room.

Jericho Sims had a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with four points for the Bucks. Milwaukee's Myles Turner had nine points and 10 rebounds against his former team.

The Bucks outrebounded Indiana 48-37 and had a 17-8 edge in second-chance points. The Bucks improved to 3-0 this season against Indiana, which knocked Milwaukee out of the playoffs each of the last two seasons.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his sixth game in a row since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The Bucks are 15-15 with Antetokounmpo and 6-14 without him this season.

The Bucks also didn't have Kyle Kuzma (calf soreness).

Indiana's Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown didn't play one night after the Pacers acquired them from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the earliest they could play is Tuesday at New York, though a lingering ankle issue could keep Zubac out longer.

Pacers: At Toronto on Sunday .

Bucks: At Orlando on Monday night.

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Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard (2) loses control of the ball against Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Indiana Pacers' Aaron Nesmith (23) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Indiana Pacers' Kam Jones, center, looks to shoot against Milwaukee Bucks' Gary Harris (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis gestures after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)