Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
The Boston Celtics pulled off one of their best comebacks of the season on Friday night.
Boston trailed the Miami Heat by 21 points at halftime after shooting just 1-for-20 from three-point range in the first half. The deficit looked insurmountable. But the Celtics stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Miami 36-15 to erase the lead and eventually held on for a 98-96 victory at TD Garden.
Nikola Vucevic played a key role in the comeback, making his Celtics debut off the bench. Vucevic posted 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists in his first game in a Celtics uniform. His impact went beyond the numbers. His crisp passing, interior presence, and veteran leadership helped Boston claw back from the brink.
For Vucevic, the debut was a long time in the making.
The Long-Awaited Arrival in Boston
Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Celtics for years, and he knows it.
“Over the years, a lot of talks with me being connected to the Celtics,” Vucevic said. “And lot of times when I was in Boston, just around the city, I hear fans telling me to come here. And so it happened now, and I’m very happy, and I’m just gonna try to do the best I can to help the team.”
He paused and smiled.
“So, some wishes came true.”
The relief and excitement were genuine. Vucevic has spent his entire career chasing playoff success, and he finally has a chance to compete for a championship with one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Noa Dalzell 🏀
Nikola Vucevic is very happy to be in Boston:
“I always enjoyed playing here against the Celtics and TD Garden — great fans… they just respect the game a lot. They cheer for the Celtics, but they respect the opponent as well.”
“Over the years, a lot of talks with me being
Vucevic Makes An Impact for the Celtics
Vucevic did not waste any time showing why the Celtics traded for him.
Boston struggled in the first half against Miami. The Celtics trailed 59-38 at halftime and fell behind by 22 points early in the third quarter. Vucevic checked in early and helped spark the comeback.
His passing stood out immediately. The passes came out hard and accurate. He made reads quickly and found open teammates. His ability to operate out of the post gave Boston an offensive dimension it lacked all season.
Vucevic finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists in his debut. He grabbed the double-double off the bench in just his first game, providing exactly what general manager Brad Stevens envisioned when he made the trade.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Vucevic’s preparation after the game.
“One, he did a great job from the day he got to Boston to warm up, to tip off and preparing for everything, our language, our coverage, is what we needed to do,” Mazzulla said. “I thought he put himself in a position to help us win…I think credit to the guys right for having a quick understanding about why we acquire him and how he can make us better, and how we can help to make him better.”
The Celtics outscored Miami 36-15 in the third quarter to erase the deficit and eventually held on for the win. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points, while Payton Pritchard added 24 off the bench.
It was the kind of gritty, physical win that playoff teams need to grind out. And Vucevic showed he can be a part of those moments.
Why Vucevic Is Thrilled to Be in Boston
Nikola Vucevic has been chasing this opportunity his entire career.
The two-time All-Star has appeared in just 16 playoff games across more than 1,000 regular season games in his NBA career. He spent nine years with the Orlando Magic, where he made two All-Star teams but never advanced past the first round of the playoffs. He spent the last five years in Chicago, making the playoffs just twice.
This season, Vucevic averaged 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three. He appeared in all but two games for Chicago before the trade and has been extremely durable throughout his career.
But team success never followed. The Bulls sit four games below .500 and are out of the play-in race. Earlier this season, Vucevic went viral for rolling his eyes at teammates celebrating a one-point win over the Washington Wizards after nearly blowing a 20-point lead. He called his team “soft.”
Joining Boston gives him what he has been searching for.
“I’m very excited to have a chance to be in the playoffs again, something that I think every player wants to get a chance to do, and make deep runs,” Vucevic said. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to do that in my career. So, I’m excited to be here, be around a championship team, around players that have done it before, the coaching staff as well, and the Celtics throughout their history.”
After the game, he reflected on finally suiting up for the Celtics at TD Garden.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing here. One of my favorite arenas, great fans, they know the game… now I’m glad they’re supporting me.”
jb
Nikola Vucevic on his first game in TD Garden as a Celtic:
“I’ve always enjoyed playing here. One of my favorite arenas, great fans, they know the game… now im glad they’re supporting me.”
What Comes Next for the Celtics
The Celtics improved to 34-18 with the comeback win over Miami.
Boston has now won five straight games and seven of its last eight. The team sits third in the Eastern Conference and is positioned as one of the league’s top contenders. Vucevic gives Boston another option in the frontcourt alongside Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.
Boston’s next game is Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. EST against the New York Knicks at TD Garden, just before the Super Bowl kicks off. The Celtics will look to extend their winning streak to six games before the All-Star break.
Nikola Vucevic is finally in Boston, and the Celtics continue rolling.