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Derrick White has been an invaluable role player for the Boston Celtics this season, and never more than in the last second of Game 6 of Saturday night’s Eastern Conference Finals. With some quick thinking and a deft touch, White tapped in an offensive rebound at the buzzer to give the Celtics a stunning 104-103 win and keep their season alive.
Once down 0-3 in the series against the No. 8 seeded Miami Heat, the Celtics have now tied three games apiece and forced a Game 7 in Boston on Monday. Of the 151 teams on the brink of being swept, they are only the fourth team to even force a Game 7, and they will try to make NBA history as the home team on Monday.
But the Celtics won nothing except the opportunity to play another day. Still, White’s shot will become even more important if they win Game 7, but either way, it will go down in the books as an all-time playoff moment. In the aftermath, here’s a look at some of the best reactions to the game, from inside and outside the arena.
White disputes Papa’s claim of winner of the first game
Derrick White’s father is an active tweeter during games and was ecstatic about his son’s incredible playing. Here’s a sample of some of his responses: “Omg that’s my boy” and “7 because of 9,” referring to the Celtics forcing Game 7 because of White, who wears number nine.
White’s father also added that this was his son’s first game winner.
However, Saturday night’s hero disputed that claim.
“First game winner ever? I had to have something special in college or something,” White said. “I’m going to check on my dad on that. But this is special. This is the playoffs. Game 6, back to the wall. This is definitely special.”
Tatum: ‘That was crazy’
Jayson Tatum was there hugging White on the floor as the festivities began, but he still hadn’t fully understood what he was seeing when he sat down for his post-game press conference.
“Ooh-whee,” Tatum said. “Oh, my God. That was unbelievable. Man, we put up a play. They kind of took that away – I was trying to get the ball. Jimmy and Strus jumped up to me, Smart came and shot it, and we just crashed into the glass. Everything was like a blur after that. D-White tipped it in, but that felt like the longest 10 seconds ever waiting for confirmation whether he made it or not.
“I’m still in disbelief. That was crazy.”
Like a lightning bolt
Jaylen Brown, like his superstar teammate, was still in disbelief as he made his way to the podium. However, he was calm enough to give us a good description of how White flew in from the weak side to get to the attack boards.
“It all happened so fast,” said Brown. “I couldn’t really say [what happened]. I know Smart shot it and I thought it was good. Then Derrick White came like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere and saved the day, man. It was just an incredible game.”
Spoelstra regrets bad luck, predicts Game 7 win
Before the last second of the game, it was the Heat who were the comeback kings in this postseason – and they were a fraction of a second away from their most important yet. Head coach Erik Spoelstra deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team together in those situations, but he doesn’t have everything under control.
He lamented the unfortunate nature of the buzzer during his presser, but predicted a Game 7 win:
“Letting that ball go anywhere but Jayson Tatum. Ideally, you would think you’re hoping you’re doing the right things,” Spoelstra said. “That thing just bounced in a different way. That’s the only place it could have collided to hurt us. I thought we covered a lot of things in that piece and sometimes things just don’t break you down.
“I don’t think there’s any regrets about that. It’s just a shame. But look, this is how this season has been. This is a great series. Right now I don’t know how we’re going to pull this off, but we are going to get it done. And that’s what the next 48 hours will be about.”
Butler proud of his group, says Heat ‘must move on’
Butler almost was the hero in Game 6, only to see his potential game-winning free throw erased by White’s tip-in. Asked afterwards how the team can react to such a devastating loss, Butler said they have no choice but to look ahead.
“Basketball for you,” Butler said. “Basketball at its best. Very, very, very entertaining. But that’s good basketball. I think, I believe, as we all do, like you get the same test until you pass it, I swear. We were in the same position last years. We can do it. I know we will. We have to hit the road and win in a very, very, very tough environment. But we are capable of that. So let’s get busy.
“I mean I tell them there’s nothing you can do about it now. All you can do is move on. But honestly I’m proud of the guys for never giving up, fighting to the end and to give.” us a chance to win this basketball game. Didn’t go our way. Part of it. It hasn’t gone our way very often this year. So this is nothing new. We need to hit the road and do something special. But we have a special group, so why shouldn’t it be us?’
NBA world stunned
The current and former players not involved in the game watched as fans like the rest of us, and even they were amazed by what they saw.
You know a game and its ending are special when even other players react that way.
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