It s not Brown, why did the Celtics win? The biggest hero has revealed: both offense and defense are excellent, shining the field

On May 15, 2025, this night destined to be remembered, the Celtics and the Knicks had a fierce confrontation in the G5 in the NBA Playoff Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. In the end, the Celtics defeated the Knicks with a huge gap of 127-102, rewriting the series score to 2-3, successfully continuing the hope of defending the title. In this critical battle, Derek White was undoubtedly the focus of the game. He became the savior of the Celtics with a legendary performance.

From the data, White's performance is terrifying. In the whole game, he made 9 of 16 shots, 7 of 13 three-pointers, 9 of 11 free throws, and scored 34 points, setting a new record in a single game in the playoffs. The three-point shooting percentage is as high as 53.8%, which is particularly amazing under the high-intensity confrontation in the playoffs. Each of his seven three-pointers was like a heavy gun, and he repeatedly exploded the gap in victory for the Celtics at critical moments. In the first quarter, White showed a hot feel, making 4 of 4 shots in a single quarter, 4 of 5 three-pointers, and scoring 14 points alone, helping the Celtics take the lead for a short time and laying a good start for the team. In the third quarter, White's solo show, he scored 13 points in a single quarter, including 2 three-pointers and multiple breakthroughs, leading the Celtics to a 32-17 attack wave, setting the victory in one fell swoop. Even in the final quarter, he played for only 9 minutes and contributed 2 points, 1 assist and 2 blocks, continuing to consolidate his advantage for the team. In contrast, although Jaylen Brown contributed 26 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists, showing comprehensive ability, but his shooting efficiency (9 of 17 shots, 3 of 5 three-pointers) was slightly lower than White. Brown took more expenses on the defensive end, while White's efficient scoring directly relieved the team's offensive pressure. At the critical moment, White's consecutive scoring and three-point rain in the third quarter were the core driving force for the Celtics to overtake and widen the gap, and Brown's contribution was more reflected in the organization and rebounds.

In addition to his outstanding offensive performance, White is also unambiguous on the defensive end. He sent three blocks throughout the game and successfully restricted the Knicks' core players, such as Brunson. His defensive efficiency is crucial to the team's overall offensive and defensive rhythm and is a key link in the Celtics' defensive system. In a tactical sense, due to Tatum's season reimbursement due to injury, White became the most stable scoring point on the outside of the Celtics. His ball-holding breakthrough and running without the ball made up for the team's offensive gap and became an indispensable tactical core for the team.

Although Brown's quasi-triple-double data is also impressive, White's efficient explosion on the offensive end and dominance at critical moments undoubtedly make him the undisputed greatest hero in this game. His performance not only saved the Celtics' series suspense, but also injected strong confidence into the team's subsequent counterattack. In the next game, I believe White will continue to remain hot and lead the Celtics to attack the defending goal. And this game will surely become a classic battle in White's career and will be remembered by fans for a long time.