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Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116

Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, right, pressures Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON (AP) — Derrick White scored a season-high 33 points and tied a career-high with nine 3-pointers to help the Boston Celtics pull away in the second half for a 129-116 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night.

Jaylen Brown added 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help the Celtics snap a two-game losing skid. Anfernee Simons finished with 14 points.

The Celtics took control in the fourth quarter, using a 20-7 run to open a 112-96 lead. It grew to 19 points. Boston connected on 21 3-pointers on the night.

Kel’el Ware had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Miami, which has lost six of its last seven. Norman Powell added 18 points. Bam Adebayo finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Heat had 102 field goal attempts and connected on 19 3s but shot just 39% from the field overall.

Miami dropped to 5-9 on the road this season.

Rookie Kasparas Jakucionis added 17 and had five 3-pointers in his first career start.

Miami had only 10 players available with Tyler Herro out for the fifth time in six games with a toe injury, and Andrew Wiggins (lower back pain), Nikola Jovic (elbow), Davion Mitchell (sprained left ankle) and Pelle Larsson (sprained left ankle) all sidelined as well.

The game was tied 58-58 at halftime, with White leading all scorers with 19 points.

The Heat stayed in the game thanks to 11 offensive rebounds in the half, which led to 17 second-chance points. But they had only seven second-chance points in the second half.

Up next

Heat: At Knicks on Sunday.

Celtics: At Raptors on Saturday.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/NBA

Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, left, battles for the ball against Miami Heat center Kel’El Ware, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) blocks a shot by Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Derrick White scores season-high 33, hits nine 3s as Celtics pull away from Heat 129-116 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm, center right, talks with former Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Kyle Hightower

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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