Anfernee Simons explodes with 39 points and guides Boston to victory against Miami

Anfernee Simons put on a show Thursday night at the Kaseya Center. The Boston Celtics sixth man scored 39 points – his personal record since arriving in Massachusetts – to carry his team to a hard-fought 119-114 victory over the Miami Heat. This exceptional performance allowed the Celtics to end a two-game losing streak.

PLAYER PROFILE

Anfernee SIMONS

Position(s): Guard

Height: 190 cm

Age: 26 years (06/08/1999)

Nationalities:

Stats 2025-2026 / NBA

PTS

14.1

#110

REB

2.4

#309

AST

2.6

#149

A spectacular comeback orchestrated by Boston’s bench

The Celtics had a nightmarish start to the game, trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half and 13 points in the third quarter. Miami had taken the lead with a devastating 15-0 run after Sam Hauser’s first baskets, quickly leading 28-9 and forcing Joe Mazzulla to call two timeouts.

« I just came in being aggressive, giving the game what it needed, » Simons said in a post-game interview with NBC Sports Boston. « That’s what’s great about this group, one man can be struggling, but we have plenty of guys to come pick us up and take over in that way. Tonight was my night. »

The Celtics’ comeback began thanks to their bench. Simons scored 11 points in the final five minutes of the first quarter with three 3-pointers and a drawn foul. Luka Garza also contributed with a 3-pointer and a second-chance basket, while Jordan Walsh proved valuable on the offensive glass with three rebounds during his first six minutes.

Simons enters Celtics history

Simons’ 39 points represent the fourth-highest total ever achieved by a Celtics substitute, behind Larry Bird’s 47 points in 1985, Payton Pritchard’s 43 last March, and Todd Day’s 41 in 1995. It’s also the record for a Boston bench player on the road.

« I think he was tremendous, » Mazzulla told reporters. « Scoring is what he’s done most of his career, but for me, it’s just the way he defended. He had a block, some rebounds in traffic, he was physical on offense. Just a complete game. »

Ant’s masterpiece performance lead us tonight down the stretch making him tonight’s @Gatorade Player of the Game 🎨 pic.twitter.com/aqrJ8JIMyO

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 16, 2026

Jaylen Brown, returning after missing the game against Indiana due to lower back spasms, added 27 points despite a difficult start (9/24 shooting). Sam Hauser hit the decisive fourth-quarter 3-pointer to give Boston the lead 101-100, finishing with 17 points. The Celtics will continue their four-game road trip Saturday night in Atlanta, where they’ll face their former teammate Kristaps Porzingis.

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