White's buzzer-beater puts Celtics in exceptionally rare company

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick White's buzzer-beater puts Celtics with Michael Jordan, Bulls for exceptionally rare feat

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 5/28/23

NBA fans witnessed arguably one of the best finishes to an NBA Playoff game on Saturday night when the Boston Celtics stunned the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The magnitude of the situation goes beyond just a wild game-winning tip-in by Celtics guard Derrick White as time expired. It also evened up a series that was once a 3-0 lead for the Miami Heat at 3-3 with Game 7 to be played back to Boston.

As superb as White's put-back was just before the clock hit zero, it also put both the Celtics and their 28-year-old guard in the rarest company imaginable. As The Athletic detailed, White's buzzer-beater marked just the second time in NBA history that a player has made a game-winning shot while facing elimination and trailing at the time of the final shot.

The other time this occurred? The infamous Michael Jordan shot over Craig Ehlo and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 NBA Playoffs.

Derrick White's buzzer-beater Saturday was the second in NBA history by a player whose team was facing elimination and trailing at the time of the shot.

The other?

Michael Jordan over Craig Ehlo against the Cavaliers in the 1989 first round.

H/T Celtics PR / @LawMurrayTheNU pic.twitter.com/ISHJGP3m8I
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 28, 2023

Of any "elite company" for a player or team to join, doing so to put yourself next to Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, but more specifically, that iconic moment, is an impressive feat.

While the Celtics have evened up the series, setting up a win-or-go-home Game 7, White himself has been a big factor throughout the three-game winning streak. He's averaged 17 points while shooting 12-of-22 from 3-point range and north of 50 percent from the field. White's performance in Game 6 was one of his most well-rounded of the postseason, as he scored 11 points with six assists, four rebounds, three blocks and one steal while logging the most minutes he's played in a single game (42) this postseason.

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