The Boston Celtics made history on Wednesday night in Miami. A franchise-record 53 first-quarter points set the tone for a 147-129 victory over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Jayson Tatum finished with 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists for his first triple-double since returning from injury.
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 43 points in his seventh 40-point game of the season. Sam Hauser was perfect from three in the first quarter and finished with 23 points. Boston shot 11-of-15 from deep in the opening period and never looked back.
Tatum Joins Larry Bird
Tatum’s 25-point, 18-rebound, 11-assist line placed him in rare company. The only other Celtic to record a triple-double with those kinds of numbers across the board is Larry Bird.
Doris Burke informed Tatum of the distinction during their postgame conversation.
“Itâs an honor. Anytime youâre mentioned with all-time greats, it means Iâm doing something right,” Tatum said.
The humility stood out. Tatum acknowledged it, offered a quiet smile, and moved on. That approach has defined his return from the Achilles injury. Just steady progress, game by game.
Tatum said afterward that he feels a little better with each outing but still cannot put a number on how close he is to being fully himself. The goal remains to keep stacking days.
GettyJayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics
A Record-Setting First Quarter for the Celtics
The Celtics made franchise history before the second quarter even started.
The 53 points broke a franchise record. So did the 11 three-pointers on 15 attempts. Brown had 20 in the period while Hauser poured in 17, becoming the first Celtics duo to each reach 17 points in the same quarter in the play-by-play era.
Hauser could not miss. He went 5-for-5 from deep in the first, including four in the final four minutes as Boston pulled away. Neemias Queta finished with a double-double of his own, contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Miami responded in the third quarter with 45 points, cutting the deficit to nine early in the fourth. But Hauser answered with a pair of mid-range jumpers and Tatum knocked down a stepback three to restore order. The Heat never got closer than that.
GettyMIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 01: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on April 01, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Brown Continues Stellar Season
While Tatum made franchise history, Brown continued building his case to make the All-NBA first team. His 43 points marked his seventh 40-point game of the season.
He scored the Celtics’ first 11 points and set the tone from the opening possession. Just days after calling his Hawks performance one of his worst, Brown came out with the aggressive mindset he promised and delivered one of his best.
The Celtics improved to 51-25 with six regular season games remaining. Boston heads to Milwaukee on Friday.
Final Word for the Celtics
Larry Bird is the standard in Boston. Tatum knows that better than anyone.
Joining Bird in the franchise record books while still working his way back from a torn Achilles says something about where Tatum is at. The playoffs are coming.
The Celtics look ready.
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