Derrick White’s sudden exit to the locker room during the crucial third quarter of Friday’s game against the Bulls has raised concerns for the Celtics. The veteran guard, who has been a reliable presence all season and hasn’t missed a game yet—only Jayson Tatum has logged more minutes—is dealing with a sore right foot.

With White now listed as doubtful to return for the remainder of the game, it leaves a hole in Boston’s rotation, particularly in the fourth quarter of a game that was still up for grabs.

Coach Mazzulla may be forced to adjust his game plan, likely turning to Jaylen Brown to start the final frame. He could also opt to bring Tatum back in earlier than usual, given the team’s current stretch of three games in four days. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, who had limited minutes with White on the floor, will likely see an uptick in playing time for the remainder of Friday’s matchup.

Despite the injury, White still finished the night with a solid 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 24 minutes, highlighting his importance to the team’s success.

Sean Grande tweeted the concerning update on X. “Derrick White, who hasn’t missed a game this year (only Tatum has played more minutes), is now doubtful to return with a sore right foot. 96-96, 4th quarter now @985TheSportsHub“

Although there haven’t been any further updates on Derrick White, Jarred Weiss of The Athletic reports that “Joe Mazzulla asked Derrick White about his foot and White told him he’ll be fine. But Mazzulla said he doesn’t know for sure yet.” It’s clear that the Celtics coach is also waiting for official word from the team.

But how did Boston cope in White’s absence? With the help of a $30 million star.

Derrick White exit opens door for Payton Pritchard to shine in Celtics’ victory

After Derrick White left the floor, the Cs naturally found themselves in a tight spot. It didn’t help that the Bulls had the upper hand as they moved to the fourth quarter. But what we saw after Payton Pritchard stepped onto the floor was out of this world! The 26-year-old caught fire in the last quarter, scoring 19 points on an incredible 7-for-8 shooting stretch over just 4:47. His red-hot performance completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Pritchard’s scoring spree began shortly after Boston had called behind by four points. But he quickly erased the deficit. Payton capped off the run with a crucial trey with 5:25 left, giving the Celtics a seven-point lead and helping them maintain control. Beantown went on to win, with the NBA champ scoring 19 of Boston’s 21 points during that critical stretch.

It not only showcased his scoring ability, but also solidified his role as a key contributor when the team needed him most. An aspect Mazzulla noted in the post-game presser. “I just think it’s important, returning the exact same team, to find a different weapon and a different identity…He’s a complete player. I know it sounds weird, but he’s one of the best three-level scorers that I’ve seen, especially for his size,” he said, via Celtics reporter Bobby Krivitsky.

Aside from Pritchard torching the Bulls, Boston’s signature three-point shooting also helped in pulling them over the edge. ‘The Bay State’ shot 42.6% from beyond the arc. However, Chicago held its own, going 39.2% tonight from the deep. There is also the fact that the ‘Windy State’ ranks 5th in three-point percentage this season at 38.3% – a 2.5% increase from last year.

And the Boston Celtics? With a 0.8% decrease from last season, Jayson Tatum & Co. ranks at the 9th (37.5%) as of now. This game showcased the ability to adapt and shine under pressure. If they can maintain this depth and flexibility, there is little doubt that they could very well repeat their championship. Even without a crucial contributor like Derrick White, if things come down to the worse, that is.

Keep checking this space for updates about White as they come.