The Boston Celtics could be without one of their stalwarts on Tuesday, December 2 for a rematch with the New York Knicks at TD Garden.
Derrick White is listed as probable on the official injury report for the game with a right calf contusion. It’s the same injury that kept the guard out of Boston’s last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, November 30, a 117-115 win for the Celtics.
White was also listed as probable on the injury report ahead of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, November 29, but he played in the contest and recorded 16 points and five assists. Sunday could have been some precautionary injury management on the second night of a back-to-back for White, or he could have still been ailing, which would likely mean he’ll miss tonight’s game.
The Celtics have enough depth to make up for White’s absence on the offensive end, but he is the defensive anchor for the 2024 NBA champions. This season, White leads Boston with 1.7 steals per game and is second on the team with 1.3 blocks per game.
Payton Pritchard Excels In Derrick White’s Absence
With White out of the lineup on Sunday, Payton Pritchard had to shoulder more of the offensive responsibilities for Boston, and he proved he was more than up to the task. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year dropped 42 points on 15-22 shooting from the field.
With more opportunities on the offensive end, Pritchard also hit six three pointers, including one in the first 10 seconds of the game, only the fifth time in the play-by-play era the Celtics have accomplished the feat.
Pritchard has been starting this year for the first time in his career, but he hadn’t had the best of weeks prior to Sunday, failing to post more than 20 points for four straight games. His offensive explosion at Rocket Arena, which was one point short of matching his career high, could be a sign of the sixth-year player turning into a more consistent scoring threat.
Boston Celtics Still Contending Despite A Key Injury
While White is expected to be back in the starting lineup at some point soon, this season has turned into more of a transition one for Boston due to another key injury.
When All-NBA guard and franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in the second round of the playoffs last year — forcing him to miss most, if not all, of 2025-26 — the Celtics pivoted their roster plans to give themselves more financial flexibility in the long term. They traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason, saving more than $180 million in luxury taxes this year.
The moves also paved the way for more minutes for role players like Pritchard and forward Sam Hauser, with Jaylen Brown taking over as the focal point of the offense. Boston has its eye on contending in 2026-27, with a fully-healthy Tatum and a more developed supporting cast.
However, the Celtics are still fighting for a playoff spot this season in a crowded Eastern Conference. They currently sit in eighth with an 11-9 record. After squaring off with the rival Knicks tonight, they’ll face the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors the rest of the week.
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