Live: Celtics vs Heat - Tatum vs Adebayo on ESPN

Top Stories Live Updates: Jayson Tatum's Celtics face Bam Adebayo's Heat on ESPN Follow along for the best highlights, news, notes and observations from Wednesday's NBA action.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com
Updated on April 2, 2026 1:31 AM

VJ Edgecombe and the 76ers are in Washington to face the Wizards Wednesday night. Check out the best of Wednesday’s seven-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.

2026 NBA Playoffs: Standings, bracket and clinching updates Last night’s live blog: Luka’s 42 and LeBron’s winning ways lead Tuesday Download the NBA App What we know about Wednesday’s games: Our ESPN doubleheader features Celtics-Heat (7:30 ET) and Spurs-Warriors (10 ET), as Boston and Miami renew their rivalry and the Spurs seek their 26th win in 28 games. We also have a tough divisional clash between the Magic and Hawks (7 ET) on League Pass, as Orlando seeks to avoid a sweep of the season series.

APRIL 1, 2026 / 9:27 ET Heat battling back 112-102 Boston after three quarters, after the Heat won the third quarter 45-32, nearly equaling the Celtics’ 51-point first quarter explosion. Jaylen Brown (36 pts) is the top man for Boston, while Bam Adebayo (21 pts, 10 reb) leads six Heat in double figures.

“It’s been wild changes in this game,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “We just wanted to stay the course… It always helps if you’re making a few shots.”

APRIL 1, 2026 / 9:04 ET Reed is ridiculous Watch a great shooter shoot. Rockets up 55-44 on the Bucks at the half.

Reed Sheppard from DEEP 🎯 He had 15 PTS (5 3PM) in the first half!
pic.twitter.com/KVtdAmjCe6 — NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2026

APRIL 1, 2026 / 8:50 ET Paul George going crazy Catch the rest of the contest on League Pass!

PG HAS 39 PTS THROUGH Q3 🔥 IT'S HIS MOST POINTS SCORED IN A GAME AS A SIXER!
pic.twitter.com/63G5S9m7BG — NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2026

APRIL 1, 2026 / 8:19 ET 76ers and Wizards close at the half 73-all, as Paul George (24 pts) is hot tonight. We’ve got a bit of a throwback night going in the Association.
12 points in 6mins for @Yg_Trece 🔥
pic.twitter.com/LPRltkDhKY — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 1, 2026

APRIL 1, 2026 / 8:05 ET Boston keeps rolling 51-33 Celtics after the first, as they knocked down 11 3-pointers in the period.
7 for 7 💪
pic.twitter.com/vhcuScDgdX — Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 1, 2026

APRIL 1, 2026 / 7:45 ET Jaylen Brown on a roll First 11 PTS for Boston: JB fake & score. JB driving layup. JB 3. JB free throw. JB free throw. JB contested layup.
pic.twitter.com/Ktl3ih9m91 — NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2026

JB has the first 11 points for the Boston Celtics tonight. Catch the contest on ESPN!

APRIL 1, 2026 / 5:45 ET Another chapter in the Celtics-Heat rivalry Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Celtics are 15-7 against the Miami Heat in the regular season. In the postseason, it’s Celtics 13, Heat 12. No teams have played each other more during that time.

This has been a physical, tough rivalry — a veteran team, full of Miami’s trademark toughness, testing an up-and-coming squad led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. We’ve seen Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo rise up to thwart the Celtics. Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker, Derrick White and Daniel Theis all gave their all to spur Boston, led by the maturing Tatum and Brown.

Think back for a moment to Bam’s block on Tatum, Derrick White’s miraculous game-winner, the Celtics comeback from 0-3 down in 2023 to force a Game 7. The Heat made two Finals runs during this period; the Celtics made one in 2024, beating Miami en route to the crown.

It’s been one of the best rivalries in all of sports. Several of the major players are still here; both teams want to make noise in the Playoffs. Settle down and strap in. Celtics-Heat tonight.

APRIL 1, 2026 / 5:15 ET Welcome to a seven-game night! Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics face the Miami Heat on ESPN to open tonight’s national doubleheader.

Our slate tonight is highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader, featuring Jayson Tatum’s Celtics facing Bam Adebayo’s Heat (7:30 ET) and Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs facing Draymond Green’s Warriors (10 ET).

Here’s the complete schedule:

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards, 7 ET
Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, 7 ET
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 ET (ESPN)
New York Knicks vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 ET
Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors, 8 ET
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets, 8 ET
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz, 9 ET
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 ET (ESPN)

Related 3 things to watch for: Hawks-Magic on League Pass The Orlando Magic will host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at 7 ET on NBA League Pass.

Pistons clinch 1st division title since '08 Two years after going 14-68 and losing a league-record tying 28 straight games, the Pistons are 55-21 this season.

Kia Rookie Ladder: Who'll solidify their case? The Cooper Flagg-vs.-Kon Knueppel debate in the Kia ROY chase rages on, plus a new face enters the Top 5 as 2025-26 winds down.

HOFer Wilkins impressed with Tatum's early impact Dominique Wilkins -- who underwent a similar injury comeback story in his career -- is confident Jayson Tatum will return to his old self.