Derrick White reacts to emulating Michael Jordan with NBA Playoff buzzer-beater

28 May 2023 , 10:22

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Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals to level the series 3-3 and force a Game Seven (Image: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Derrick White made NBA history after he completed a buzzer-beating play to keep the Boston Celtics ' playoff hopes alive.

The Celtics claimed a dramatic 104-103 win over the Miami Heat in Game Six of their Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. That victory forced a deciding Game Seven at the TD Garden in Boston on Monday night.

White recorded a buzzer-beating bucket with just 0.2 seconds left on the clock at the time he made the shot. Referees reviewed the play before quickly confirming that the basket was good and secured the win for the Celtics. Earlier in the game, Jimmy Butler made three free throws to put Miami one put up with just three seconds left in the game.

Had the Heat held on for the win it would have sent them to the NBA Finals to face the Denver Nuggets. As it is, the Celtics have come back from 3-0 down in the series to draw level at 3-3 and force a Game Seven.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics, with Tatum getting 31 points with 12 rebounds and five assists. Brown scored 26 points and racked up 10 rebounds and three assists to help their team get the win.

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With the winning bucket, White became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 for the Chicago Bulls to score a game-winning play with his team on the verge of being eliminated. Jordan scored the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers with his famous ‘The Shot’ at the buzzer to secure a place in the next round of the playoffs.

Derrick White scored the winning basket for the Boston Celtics to force a Game Seven against the Miami Heat (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

After the game, White was asked what was going through his mind during the final play of the game. Marcus Smart attempted a field goal but missed, with White there to tap in the rebounding and beat the buzzer by the finest of margins.

"Ball came to me," said White. "I made the shot. Season was on the line and we don't want to go home".

In forcing a Game Seven, the Celtics have become the first team since the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers to come from 3-0 down to force a Game Seven. The others in that club are the 1994 Nuggets and the 1951 New York Knicks, but all three ended up losing their Game Seven matches.

The Celtics have a chance to make history and become the first team in NBA history to recover from 3-0 down to win a playoff series. Whoever wins the series will face the Nuggets in Game One of the Finals which starts on Thursday.

Mark Wakefield