Hot Start Sets the Tone
Derrick White came out firing in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, hitting his first four three-pointers and finishing with a game-high 34 points as the Boston Celtics crushed the New York Knicks 127–102 at TD Garden.
“It felt good. We got really good looks, especially to start the game,” said White. “It’s always nice to get those good looks and shoot it with confidence. Shoutout to my teammates for finding me.”
White’s early threes came from a mix of team coordination and individual brilliance—Jaylen Brown found him wide open in the corner, Al Horford assisted him off a screen, and White even nailed a contested three from well beyond the arc. 
Back-to-Back Strong Performances
White had a similar start in Game 4, making his first four shots from deep and ending with 23 points. Unfortunately, that performance was overshadowed by Jayson Tatum’s season-ending Achilles injury.
Still, White and the Celtics are not ready to throw in the towel.
“We’ve got a lot of people that are highly competitive and we have a lot of talent in that locker room,” White added. “Seeing our brother go down was tough. He texted us before the game today that he was cheering us on. That was cool to hear.”
White has been in close contact with Tatum, encouraging him throughout his recovery.
Porzingis Struggles, Kornet Steps Up
Kristaps Porzingis played just 12 minutes, scoring a single point and missing all three shot attempts. He’s been struggling with a viral illness, averaging only 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in the series.
Coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Porzingis had trouble breathing and was benched in the second half as a precaution.
In his place, Luke Kornet stepped up with an impressive performance—10 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocked shots.
“Changing the lineup at halftime is something we’ve done a lot this year,” said Mazzulla. “KP will be ready for us.”
Hauser Returns
After missing three games with a sprained ankle, Sam Hauser returned and contributed two three-pointers. Coach Mazzulla appreciated Hauser’s floor spacing and off-ball movement.
“It was great. Another layer of offensive pace. He gave us some good stuff,” Mazzulla noted.
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