After enduring one of the worst losing streaks in franchise history, the Miami Heat dug themselves out of a hole, winning five straight. Those five wins came against the Hornets, Warriors, Hawks, 76ers, and Wizards. Aside from the win against the Warriors, the streak was primarily against lackluster competition.
Then, the true test came against the Celtics on Wednesday night.
The Celtics came into the game with a nine-game winning streak themselves. They've won eight out of the last 11 regular-season games against Miami. The Heat knew it would not be easy to hold onto their best winning streak of the season.
Entering the game short-handed without Andrew Wiggins or Duncan Robinson, coach Erik Spoelstra decided to play a tight eight-man rotation despite it being the first night of a back-to-back. It was a risk that paid off, as every player had a critical role in one of Miami's best wins of the season, extending their win streak to six games.
1. Pelle Larsson is a big part of Miami's recent success.
Since replacing the injured Wiggins in the starting lineup, Larsson has played his best ball of the season. After back-to-back impressive performances, the second-round pick was challenged with going toe-to-toe with two of the best wings in the league, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Larsson put his head down, attacked the basket and put it on the Celtics defense for the entire contest. Larsson alone went to the free-throw line seven times in the first quarter. Later, his explosive start to the second half pushed the Heat's lead to as high as 22 points.
Most importantly, when the Celtics cut the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter, Larsson made a big-time stop. After this stretch, it's fair to assume Larsson won't be leaving the rotation any time soon.
2. The short-handed bench gave the Heat a boost at crucial moments.
Miami's bench consisted of Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson and Haywood Highsmith. That's it.
Yet, those three outscored the entire Celtics bench, 45-27.
Highsmith, as of late, has been a knockdown shooter, including the buzzer-beater three out of the corner that gave Miami a 14-point lead and momentum going into the locker room after Boston started to make a push.
Davion Mitchell was a pest on defense (as always) and has been the heartbeat of the Heat team during this win streak. Getting a technical foul after getting called for a foul despite playing hard defense on Derrick White only gave Miami more energy to close the first half.
Mitchell is the kind of player Miami has been missing since losing Gabe Vincent to the Lakers -- a gritty defender who will pick up 94 feet and provide sparks offensively when needed.
3. Kyle Anderson saved the game
Who would have thought that in a game like this, 31-year-old Kyle Anderson would be the one to completely change the tempo? Anderson played at his own pace—the "Slo-Mo" way—and the Heat followed his lead after Boston's 19-1 run in the third quarter. When the Celtics made their push, Miami rushed possessions and settled for bad shots, but Anderson's steady presence helped them regain control.
Late in the third quarter, his impact was undeniable. He calmly sank two free throws, blocked a shot, and knocked down a mid-range jumper to push the lead back to double digits—momentum that Miami never relinquished. His composure gave the Heat the poise they had lacked during Boston's run, proving once again that even in the biggest moments, "Slo-Mo" can dictate the game on his terms.
Anderson carried that same execution into the fourth, going 4-for-4 from the free throw line, hitting a 12-foot jumper, and finishing a driving layup off a Mitchell assist. He ensured that Miami stayed in control, keeping Boston at bay when it mattered most. It was by far his best performance in a heat uniform.
4. This was the Best win of the season!
The win early in the season against the east-leading Cavs was a solid wire-to-wire victory, but it couldn't match the stakes of this game. Late in the season, fighting for play-in position, with winning streaks on the line, Miami stood its ground.
With Boston making a run, you'd think the Heat would fold like they've done during their losing skid. Instead, they fought, showed resilience, and silenced the Boston crowd to keep their winning streak alive.
And, hey, as a Heat fan, it's always a little more satisfying to get a win in TD Garden.
