The Boston Celtics returned to winning ways after a double header in LA, winning a re-match of last season’s NBA Finals.
A road trip to the Dallas Mavericks stood out on the schedule as a tough task for the defending champions Boston Celtics.
Fortunately for Boston, the timing worked out well with the Celtics being without injured star player Luka Doncic.
And while the Mavs have been finding it tough without him, they are still capable, recently beating Western Conference leaders OKC.
After losing to the Lakers, the Celtics did well to come out on top 122-107.
Kristaps Porzingis praised Derrick White
The win over the Mavericks was a night the Celtics really fired, with Jaylen Brown answering his critics with a strong 22-point performance.
Jayson Tatum led the team with a 24 point night – but only just. Derrick White contributed 23 points.
White went 7-16 from the field and 4-10 from three, enjoying a return to form at just the right time.
Speaking after the game, Kristaps Porzingis argued that White is the missing ingredient that really transforms the team.
Porzingis began: “It was a decent bounce back after the LA loss.”
“D White is so good. He just lost a little bit of rhythm. It can happen. We saw a couple of threes that he hit ‘oh yeah that’s D-White’. It’s always good to see that.”
He added: “We are a different beast when D White gets going. He can hit so many daggers for us, that brings us to another level.”
Derrick White struggled vs Lakers
Derrick White really struggled against the Lakers and played only 19 minutes in the win.
Speaking to NBA Today, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst commented that it was evident to him that White was clearly struggling physically.
He explained: “I was talking to some people who were at the game last night, they felt Derrick White, they have never seen him so fatigued.
“They played him less than 20 minutes. Joe Mazzulla saw that he ‘didn’t have it’.”
Derrick White played 36 minutes against the Mavericks, and clearly ‘had it’ on the night, providing the key to the Celtics win.
The loss to the Lakers came on the second night of a back to back after overtime win against the Clippers, and they had an extra day to prepare for the Dallas game. It made all the difference.
Porzingis’ comments show his respect for White, who was clearly missed against the Lakers.
