Celtics set franchise record for most points in a single quarter

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 26, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics set a franchise record on Wednesday for most points in a single quarter. They had 53 points in a 147-129 win over the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

The top Celtics performer in the first quarter was small forward Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Georgia, who ended up with 20 points. One more Celtics player reached double digits in the first quarter as power forward Sam Hauser of Green Bay, Wisconsin had 17 points. It was a notable game for Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals most valuable player, who finished with 43 points.

The Celtics outscored the Heat 53-33 in the opening 12 minutes. The previous record for most points by the Celtics in a single quarter actually came earlier this season. On January 17, the Celtics scored 52 points in the second quarter in a 132-106 Celtics win over the Atlanta Hawks.

The NBA record for most points in a single quarter is 55 points. That has been accomplished twice. The Memphis Grizzlies had 55 third quarter points in a convincing 141-114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on April 9, 2022, and the Golden State Warriors had 55 first quarter points in a dominant 157-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on April 9, 2023. In a remarkable twist of fate, these records were set exactly one year apart to the exact same date.

With the win, the Celtics improved to a record of 51 wins and 25 losses with a winning percentage of .671. That is the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Only the Detroit Pistons at 55 wins and 21 losses are better.