Not only did the Celtics open 2025 with a tough four-game road trip, but they had to play the Timberwolves without two key starters. That meant guys needed to adjust their role, picking up the slack for those missing Thursday’s game in Minnesota.
Jayson Tatum was excellent in the Celtics’ win over the Wolves; he was the best player on the court. But it was also Derrick White’s stellar play that helped lead the C’s — especially in the fourth quarter. White poured in 13 of his 26 points in the final frame, knocking down clutch shots to keep the Wolves from taking the win.
Of course, White as a do-it-all guard has been well-documented. He was at his best defensively throughout Thursday’s win as his activity level was evident on the court. That production was much-needed with Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis out with injuries. White admitted he hasn’t played his best ball of late, so he wanted to leave his imprint on the game. He did that and then some Thursday.
“Just part of the season,” White told reporters. “There are ups and there are downs, but kind of just felt like I needed to do a little bit more. And I feel like you’re always your worst critic, so just try to be a little better and just come out here with the right mindset, the right energy and just try to help us win games.”
White came in at 10th among East guards in the first batch of fan voting for the All-Star game. So, realistically, he has a lot of ground to make up when it comes to being voted as an All-Star starter.
But games like Thursday don’t hurt when it comes to his All-Star candidacy down the line. There’s also the chance he gets picked as a reserve, which is possible if he gets hot over this next month. White finished the win with 26 points and two blocks, shooting 5-for-10 on 3-pointers, including a banked-in shot with two minutes left to seal the victory.
All-Star or not, the Celtics need more of that aggressive, intentional White through the rest of January. The C’s struggled to the tune of an 8-6 record in December, including a 6-4 mark at home. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the rest of this road trip, including a game against the Rockets in Houston on Friday. But a win over a pesky Wolves team helps as the Celtics got stellar play from two of their best players in Tatum and White.
“Derrick is so important to our team,” Tatum said. “I think the rest of the league and the rest of the world understands his value, how talented he is and how much he contributes to us on a nightly basis. We’re just very fortunate to have someone like D-White who can handle the ball, take guys off the dribble. Obviously he’s an excellent shooter, things he does on the defensive end. He’s just a big-time player. He makes big-time plays late in the game.”
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