Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) collides with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the second quarter during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics' Derrick White has a dental disaster during Game 5

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Jun 17, 2024 10:53 PM ET

Derrick White’s dentist has some work to do after the NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics guard had a tooth dislodged after taking a nasty blow to the face Monday in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden.

White dove to the floor to chase a loose ball during the second quarter of play. Mavericks center Dereck Lively landed right on top of White’s head, which violently banged into the hardwood.

Derrick White: Hockey Guy pic.twitter.com/OnHmxm0QKG

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 18, 2024

The game was momentarily stopped as blood started gushing out of White’s mouth. A photo of White has since gone viral on social media, which shows the aftermath of his face-first collision with the TD Garden floor.

Derrick White chipped his tooth after hitting his face on the court pic.twitter.com/BkFnrkVcMs

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2024

The fact that White still mustered a smile on his face points to just how locked-in he was toward winning a championship. But White’s dedication to his team wasn’t enough to spare him from ridicule.

“Ooh, you sure is [sic] ugly,” Jaylen Brown joked when he caught a glimpse of White’s crooked front tooth.

Jaylen Brown to Derrick White:

“Ooooh, you sure is ugly” pic.twitter.com/SIv0VnvvHF

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 18, 2024

White has been an unsung hero for the Celtics all season long. He entered Game 5 as the Celtics’ third-leading scorer in the postseason, averaging 16.9 points to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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