BOSTON — After Derrick White grew to become the fifth participant in NBA postseason historical past to make no less than 20 3-pointers over three consecutive video games, he was requested if he appears like he is in a rhythm.
“I might say so,” White stated with a smile after scoring 25 factors to steer the Boston Celtics to a 120-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Recreation 1 of their Japanese Convention semifinal sequence Tuesday night time.
“It feels good … I simply wish to assist us win.”
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White definitely did that in Recreation 1. He continued his taking pictures barrage to start these playoffs by going 7-for-12 from deep — together with 4-for-6 within the third quarter, when he scored 14 factors — to enhance to 20-for-37 (54%) over Boston’s previous three playoff video games.
He is the fifth participant to make 20 or extra 3-pointers over a three-game span within the postseason, becoming a member of Stephen Curry (3 times), Klay Thompson (2016), Jamal Murray (2020) and Damian Lillard (2021 and 2024 mixed).
White’s newest stretch of scorching taking pictures was greater than sufficient to place away the sport for the Celtics, who improved to 5-1 in these playoffs with a sport that largely felt extra like one in November or December than the primary week of Might.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was requested how a lot White being aggressive along with his shot helps Boston’s offense general.
“It is essential as a result of it means, often the photographs he takes are as a result of we’re both out in transition, we have set actually good screens and he has that, or there’s 2-on-1s and we’re making additional passes,” Mazzulla stated.
“So I believe when these guys get increasingly more photographs, it means we’re attending to the completely different layers of our offense, which is essential in opposition to a group like this.”
It additionally performed an element in opening up the ground for Jaylen Brown, who completed with 32 factors on 12-for-18 taking pictures to associate with six rebounds, two assists and only a single turnover. Brown and White powered a Boston offense that roughly was capable of do what it wished in opposition to a Cavaliers group that was barely 48 hours faraway from surviving a rock struggle of a Recreation 7 in opposition to the Orlando Magic.
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“There’s numerous areas we will enhance on,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “I believed the fellows got here out with the precise intent and the precise effort. Dealing with a group like Boston, I believe it is good to have the ability to play them. You are not used to the velocity, the spacing, the taking pictures and all these issues till you stand up in opposition to them particularly coming from a sequence we simply got here from that was extra of a half-court slugfest the place they play with extra tempo, extra space.
“We’ll be taught from it, and we’ll be higher on Thursday.”
The Cavaliers will should be to have an opportunity of constructing this sequence aggressive. Boston recovered from going 6-for-22 within the first half from distance to tug away from Cleveland after the break regardless of a 33-point efficiency from star Donovan Mitchell.
Boston was ready to take action, largely, due to White’s newest spectacular taking pictures efficiency, simply a few seasons faraway from his struggles from deep throughout Boston’s run to the 2022 NBA Finals.
“Derrick White has grown,” Brown stated. “He is a brand new model that we’ve not seen earlier than. He is put the work in, his physique has developed a bit bit, he is received some extra playoff expertise. And he is being aggressive, and we urge him to do this increasingly more down the road.”
