Mitchell Shines in Heat’s 124-103 Win Over Celtics

BOSTON, April 2, 2025 — Davion Mitchell returned from an illness to contribute significantly to the Miami Heat‘s 124-103 victory against the Boston Celtics Wednesday night, scoring 13 points and recording seven assists in 34 minutes off the bench.

After missing Monday’s win in Washington due to a stomach bug, Mitchell marked his return with an impressive performance, achieving his first game of the season with at least three steals and three three-pointers. Over his last eight games, Mitchell has averaged 11.9 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 50.7 percent from the field.

“I kind of felt it in the morning time. But what really did it is when I got on the bus,” Mitchell said regarding his illness. “I started throwing up and I was like I can’t do it. You know what, I tried, but I just couldn’t do it.”

Mitchell’s presence was crucial as the Heat sought to maintain momentum during a challenging phase of the season, especially with team members Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr. sidelined. Coach Erik Spoelstra noted that the experience gained from such games is vital for the Heat’s development.

“Yes, the goal is greater than learning experiences. And, yes, victories are paramount at this stage. But it sure helps going forward to know what you have going forward,” Spoelstra said. “Even when we were going through those tough times, you felt like the process was getting better.”

The Heat started with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Kel'el Ware, Alec Burks, Tyler Herro, and Pelle Larsson. In absence of stars like Andrew Wiggins and Duncan Robinson, the supporting cast continued to deliver. According to Spoelstra, the team’s overall depth has allowed even bench players to shine in crucial moments.

“Honestly, I just think that anybody on this team, anybody on the bench, can play really heavy minutes on any other team. I think that’s how good we are,” Mitchell remarked, highlighting the strength of the team’s roster.

With the Celtics missing key players like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, they started with Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Luke Kornet. Spoelstra had remarked on the Celtics’ ability to shoot three-pointers efficiently, explaining that it is characteristic of modern NBA teams.

“There are other teams also that are playing similarly to that. They just do it more efficiently than most teams,” he said. “So it’s not only that they’re getting the volume, but they hit the timely ones in those inflection moments during the course of the game.”

The Heat’s victory solidified their efforts to climb back in the standings, demonstrating the team’s determination and resilience as they move forward in the season.