For the first time since their seven-game win streak in late November, the Celtics have won four straight games. They return from their three-game road trip with a perfect 3-0 record, having won eight of their last 11 — the best mark in the Eastern Conference during that span. They capped it off with a big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, closing the gap to just 4.5 games for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
The win in Cleveland was perhaps one of Boston’s most complete performances of the season. It started on the defensive end, where they held the high-flying Cavs offense to just 105 points (their third-lowest total this year) on 39.6% shooting from the field (a season-low) and 28.2% from beyond the arc (third-worst) while forcing 13 turnovers.
The defense anchored Boston, allowing them to weather a mediocre shooting night of their own. They controlled the game by winning the margins — attempting seven more shots than Cleveland, hitting nine more threes, and dominating both the rebounding and turnover battles.
Boston’s bench also played a crucial role, with all four reserves (Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford) posting a +10 or better in the box score. Horford led the way, recording his third career double-double off the bench with 13 points and 10 rebounds, as the Celtics’ bench outscored the Cavs’ reserves 29-23.
“They were great,” Joe Mazzulla said on the reserves. “Al, Payton, Luke, and Sam were tremendous on both ends of the floor.”
However, even with the Celtics leading by as many as 20 and holding a 15-point cushion in the fourth quarter, the Cavs refused to roll over. Cleveland fought back, cutting the deficit to just four with 5:30 to play. That’s when Derrick White took the game into his own hands, slamming the door on Cleveland’s comeback bid, leaving no doubt that he — and the Celtics — are back.
With 4:13 remaining in the game, White scored eight points on three straight possessions in a matter of 86 seconds to push a four-point lead to 10, giving Boston all the cushion it needed as the lead never dropped back below five. He finished the quarter with 14 points on 5-of-6 (83.3%) shooting from the field and 4-of-5 (80%) from three, scoring or assisting on six of Boston’s eight makes (75.0%) in the frame.
“It was big. We needed that from him,” Jayson Tatum said on the fourth quarter from White. “He really got it going on the court — just being aggressive. He’s a big part of our team, and when he’s getting shots and being aggressive, we’re just that much harder to guard.”
White’s 14 points were the most he’s scored in a fourth quarter this season. He is now shooting 14-of-20 (70%) from the field and 12-of-18 (66.7%) from three in the clutch this season. His 70% field goal percentage is second-best among players with at least 20 shot attempts behind Houston’s Amen Thompson (71.4%). His 66.7% three-point percentage is the best in the league among players with at least 15 three-point attempts.
“I think he’s one of the most clutch players on our team, honestly,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “I feel like he always hits big shots. He’s a rhythm player. Once he gets into that rhythm and starts getting those pocket threes and making plays, he’s very, very special. Tonight was a good reminder of what he’s capable of.”
White’s impact goes far beyond clutch time; the Celtics’ success is often tied to his performance. He’s the barometer for this team. During their 12-10 stretch between December and January, White shot 40.9% FG and 34.1% 3PT. In Boston’s first 12 games of January, White was shooting just 37.4% FG — the lowest among the rotation — and 30.1% from deep, only slightly better than Jaylen Brown’s team-worst mark. To no surprise, the Celtics were 7-5.
Since then, he’s shooting 50% from the field and 46.8% from three, and the Celtics have gone 5-1. When White shoots 35% or worse from the field this season, the Celtics are just 7-7.
The last time Boston won more than three games in a row, White averaged 15.7 points on 45.5% shooting and 40.3% from deep. With his 20-point performance (7-14 FG, 6-12 3PT) in Tuesday’s win over the Cavs, White is now averaging 18.8 points on 52.1% from the field and 48.6% from three during the current four-game streak. He’s posted a positive plus-minus in each of those four games, with the Celtics improving to 32-2 when he registers a positive number. They’re 3-11 when he’s in the negative.
“When he plays that way, we’re a completely different team,” Mazzulla said on White following Tuesday night’s win. “It’s important that he keeps that [confidence] because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. That’s who he is. The late-game shot-making. The ability to make plays. That’s who he is for us, and we’ve got to continue to fight to make sure he keeps that belief and confidence.”
It’s not a coincidence that as Derrick White returns to form, as do the Celtics.
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