Ranking Derrick White's top performances in his Boston Celtics career
By Ray Petree
No. 4: February 14, 2023 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
MIN | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43:04 | 27 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | .417 | .250 | 1.00 |
The Boston Celtics journeyed to Milwaukee on Valentine’s Day, 2023 — for a showdown between two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. The two teams had met a season prior in the 2021-22 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Celtics narrowly escaped the reigning 2020-21 champion Bucks — due in large part to the absence of Khris Middleton.
Entering this contest, both teams' records were nearly identical: the Celtics were 41-17 and the Bucks were 40-17. However, the Celtics were at a heavy disadvantage — missing four of their five starters. Jaylen Brown (facial fracture), Marcus Smart (ankle), Al Horford (knee soreness), and Jayson Tatum (sick) all missed the highly-anticipated matchup. That left the Celtics last remaining starter, Robert Williams III, and the bench: primarily consisting of Derrick White, Grant Williams, Mike Muscala, Blake Griffin, and Sam Hauser.
Despite their overwhelming disadvantage, the Celtics defied the odds — forcing an overtime period, thanks to a clutch 30-footer from Hauser at the end of regulation. However, White led the way for the Celtics with a double-double — scoring 27 points and dishing 12 assists — five of which came in overtime.
Ironically, it was Jrue Holiday, then a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, who dueled with White, leading all scorers with 40 points. While the Celtics ultimately fell short in this contest, it demonstrated White’s ability to excel in his expanded role — despite the absence of Tatum, Brown, and Horford.