Derrick White achieved his first career triple-double, leading the Boston Celtics to a 119-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons during Monday’s NBA action. Despite Jayson Tatum‘s absence, the Celtics continued their winning momentum, demonstrating their depth.
“I’m not usually one that tries to chase stats or whatnot, but I saw that I was one away,” White said. “I’ve been close a lot of times, so I wanted to try and get it this time. Shout out to my teammates.”
Supporting White’s standout performance, Payton Pritchard added 23 points, while Kristaps Porzingis returned from an injury with a strong showing of 20 points and eight rebounds.
“I think it’s hard not to love him on and off the court,” Porzingis said of White. “He’s a unique human, a unique player. I can go on and on to give good compliments to D White and who he is.”
The Pistons, missing Cade Cunningham due to knee management, faced challenges in countering the Celtics’ offense. Detroit coach Monty Williams critiqued the team’s defensive efforts, emphasizing the need for improvement in effectively contesting shots.
“We closed out to a shooter, but we were still 2 feet away,” Williams said. “We contested the shot, but it had no effect on the shot. That’s something I’ve got to continue to teach a lot better than I have.”
Missing key players such as Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, the Celtics demonstrated their squad’s depth. They established a lead in the first half and expanded it with notable plays, including a memorable moment from Pritchard and a three-point play by Brown.
“I’m happy for him,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of White. “He’s continued to grow as a two-way player on both sides of the ball.”
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to host the Indiana Pacers, while the Celtics prepare for a challenging encounter with the Milwaukee Bucks, with both teams aiming to build on their performances.
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