Inside The Celtics

Derrick White Discusses Season-Saving Buzzer Beater: 'Now It's on to Game 7'

With their season down to its last breath, Derrick White propelled the Celtics to a Game 7 in Boston.

Bobby Krivitsky

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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When Jimmy Butler capitalized on three free throws, putting the Heat ahead 103-102 with three seconds left, the Celtics' season was down to its last breath.

Marcus Smart's three rolling in and out could've sealed their fate. Instead, Derrick White swooped in to preserve Boston's championship hopes and its march toward history.

After his end-of-game heroics, propelling the Celtics to a Game 7 on the TD Garden parquet with a 104-103 win, White went through his perspective of what unfolded on the final play.

I was passing it in. (Gabe) Vincent was on me, and he was up top, denying JT so (that) I couldn't get him the ball. And they did a good job of denying JB too, and Smart flashed, hit him, and there really was nobody on me, so I just spaced to the corner, and then when he shot it, tried to crash, (the) ball came to me, (and) I made the shot, so, that's what I saw."

When asked whether he knew if he got his put-back off in time, White replied, "It felt good. Everybody was asking me, 'Did you get it off?' And I was like, 'Yeah, I think so,' but it was so close you never know."

Before White's buzzer-beater, Boston led nearly the entirety of the 47:57 preceding the final three seconds. That includes a ten-point advantage with less than five minutes left.

But it's in this team's nature to slow the pace when protecting a late lead. That, as it often does, backfired. The hosts chipping away at the Celtics' advantage on the scoreboard down the stretch was reminiscent of the end of Game 7 in Miami last year.

This time, it looked like the Heat might prevail, with Butler sending his team to the NBA Finals. While last year, it was his missed pull-up three that dashed Miami's hopes of a victory; it was the good fortune of Smart's attempt from beyond the arc smoothly landing in White's hands with no one positioned to challenge him, seemingly a reward from the Basketball Gods for crashing the boards, that swung the outcome.

"We're just happy we won," White said of the swing of emotions in the final five minutes. "However we've got to get it done, we got it done, and now it's on to Game 7."

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Game 6 Win vs. Heat: Derrick White Saves Celtics Season as March Toward History Continues

The Celtics Could've Folded and Flamed Out, Instead, They're Inching Closer to History: 'We're Not Going Down Like This'

Jayson Tatum Sings Celtics' Fans Praises: 'They're a Big Part of What We Do'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 5 Win vs. Heat: Celtics Reconnecting to Swing Series Momentum

Film Room: Grant Williams' Value on Full Display in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Heat

Celtics Stars Speak on Team Sticking Together Down 3-0: 'We Didn't Want That to Define Us'

Celtics Discuss Returning to Identity Best Suiting Them in Game 4 Win: 'We're a Team That Believes in Us No Matter What'

Jaylen Brown Responds to Rumors of Disconnect in Celtics Locker Room

Here's What Stood Out in Game 4 Win vs. Heat: Celtics Get Back to Defensive Identity to Save Their Season

Looking to do the Impossible, Celtics Channel Kevin Millar: 'Don't Let Us Get One'

Trading Jaylen Brown is a Gamble the Celtics are Better Off Not Making

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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