{"id":125637,"date":"2025-02-25T13:47:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T18:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=125637"},"modified":"2025-02-26T00:32:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T05:32:27","slug":"derrick-white-fourth-quarter-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/25\/derrick-white-fourth-quarter-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Derrick White Helps Stabilize the Celtics’ Late Game Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past few seasons, Derrick White<\/a> has been an indispensable part of the Boston Celtics’ success<\/a>. White’s three-point shooting, versatile defense, and consistency have been vital to the Celtics. This season, White is having a career season, averaging 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks with 44.5\/38.4\/84.2 shooting splits. White’s fourth-quarter play has been especially impressive and crucial. Let’s dive into White’s fourth-quarter impact and how it elevates the Celtics.<\/p>\n

Derrick White Helps Stabilize the Celtics’ Late Game Offense<\/h2>\n

In 9.2 fourth-quarter minutes per game, White<\/a> averages 4.7 points on 47.2\/40.9\/83.9 shooting splits. Impressively, White ranks first on the team in fourth-quarter minutes, underscoring head coach Joe Mazzulla’s trust in him. Moreover, White ranks first on the team in fourth-quarter threes made and third in fourth-quarter points. Overall, White<\/a> ranks fifth in the NBA for made fourth-quarter threes. White’s ability to improve his play down the stretch of games is incredibly valuable.<\/p>\n

In a recent game against the New York Knicks, Boston had dominated the whole game. However, the Knicks started to mount a comeback before White caught fire, scoring nine points including three shots from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. It’s been common for White to put teams away with his hot shooting late in games. Earlier this month, against the Cleveland Cavaliers White’s 14 fourth-quarter points were key to the Celtics’ success in a clutch time win. These two games also highlight White’s ability to step up against top-tier competition. After the Knicks game, Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> praised White’s clutch play.<\/p>\n

\n

Kristaps Porzingis on Derrick White:
\n–
\n\u201cOne thing I love about him is he always makes big shots\u2026he can hit some deep corner three or some clutch three, he has this in his blood.\u201d
\n–
\nFULL INTERVIEW: https:\/\/t.co\/Us1kMlu5Tc<\/a>
\n\u26a1\ufe0f by PrizePicks pic.twitter.com\/PFfBlPvCm6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n