The Celtics barely had time to celebrate Wednesday’s win over the Trail Blazers before turning around for a back-to-back against a shorthanded Sixers squad on Thursday. Boston handled business against Portland despite resting Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņgis. With Tyrese Maxey already ruled out for Philly, the Celtics entered Thursday’s game as heavy favorites. But things got a little shaky when Derrick White took an unexpected hit.

After dropping 41 points the night before, White came out strong with 10 points and a rebound in 12 minutes. Then, in the second quarter, Kelly Oubre Jr. caught him with an elbow to the face, sending him straight to the locker room. It’s too soon to know the full extent of the injury, but from the looks of it, he might have lost a tooth.

Boston is already down multiple key players, and if White can’t return, that could throw a wrench in their plans. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time he’s dealt with this kind of battle scar. Back in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Mavericks, White went all-out diving for a loose ball and paid the price—faceplanting on the court and chipping his front tooth.

Through the 2024-25 regular season, White has been a key contributor for the C’s, averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Defensively, he’s adding 0.9 steals and 1.0 block per contest while playing 33.8 minutes a night.

White has been efficient across the board, shooting 45.0% from the field and an impressive 39.6% from three-point range. He’s also knocking down 84.7% of his free throws, contributing to a true shooting percentage of 61.6%. Right before halftime, the team updated his status, listing him as probable to return. Any doubts about his availability vanished when he took the floor to start the third quarter.

Proving once more that he’s as reliable as they come. That resilience was on full display just a night earlier when he made franchise history alongside Payton Pritchard.

Derrick White does not believe him and Payton Pritchard set the record before Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

Boston’s 118-108 win over the Trail Blazers wasn’t just another victory—it was a record-breaking performance. White and Pritchard became the first pair of Celtics teammates to each drop 40 in the same game. Pritchard led with 43, while White followed with 41, carrying a shorthanded squad missing their regular starters.

The Blazers made it a fight, but Boston’s depth showed up in a big way. Since arriving in 2022, White has been that guy—stepping up whenever needed. After the game, even he was surprised by the stat.

“It’s unbelievable. The talent that we have in the history of this franchise, I’m watching the documentary, can’t wait for the next episode, just hearing more about the history and the players that have been through this organization,” White said. “I actually thought JT (Jayson Tatum) and JB (Jaylen Brown) did it a couple of games ago, but I guess JB didn’t have 40 (points). Just to be a part of that is unbelievable, I’m truly thankful and grateful for that.”

White continues proving his worth, while Pritchard is making a real case for Sixth Man of the Year. With role players stepping up like this, Boston’s title hopes are looking stronger by the day.