Derrick White's shooting slump threatens Celtics' playoff hopes as Game 6 looms

Key facts

• Derrick White scored 6 points on 2-for-8 shooting in Game 5, missing all four 3-point attempts.
• White is averaging 8.2 points on 29.8% shooting from the field and 21.2% from three in the 2026 playoffs.
• He averaged 16.5 points on 39.4% shooting during the regular season.
• From 2021-2025, White averaged 13.5 points on 44.7% shooting and 39.5% from deep in the playoffs.
• White attempted just seven shots per game in Games 4-6, down from a career-high 14.4 in the regular season.
• The Celtics lead the series 3-2 against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Game 6 in Philadelphia.
• White signed a $118 million contract with Boston.
• The Celtics lead the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage this postseason at 36.8%.

Lede: White's struggles reach critical point

Derrick White walked onto the court at TD Garden on Tuesday night with a chance to help the Boston Celtics close out their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Instead, he scored just six points on 2-for-8 shooting, missing all four of his three-point attempts, and the Celtics lost 108-103, forcing a Game 6 on Thursday in Philadelphia. White's performance continued a troubling trend that has seen him shoot 14 of 47 from the field and 7 of 33 from beyond the arc over the first five games of the series. The Celtics still hold a 3-2 lead, but their margin for error has shrunk dramatically.

The numbers behind the slump

White's playoff averages this year — 8.2 points on 29.8% shooting and 21.2% from three — represent a sharp decline from his regular-season production of 16.5 points on 39.4% shooting and 32.7% from deep. The drop is even starker when compared to his playoff performance from 2021 to 2025, when he averaged 13.5 points on 44.7% shooting and 39.5% from three. His confidence appears shaken. White has turned down open looks and hesitated on shots he normally takes. After attempting a career-high 14.4 shots per game during the regular season, he took just seven per game over Games 4 through 6.

White's own assessment and determination

White acknowledged the mental challenge of his slump. "It's easy to say just go out there and have fun, but there are a lot of different things that go into it," he said. "So definitely thankful for the teammates I have to keep me going and have my back. It's up to me to play the way I know I can." He emphasized that his contribution need not be limited to scoring. "There's a lot of different ways to impact the game," White said. "Shooting, everybody thinks about and looks at first, but there's a lot of stuff I can do to help impact the game, and that's what I've got to do." In Game 3, despite shooting 1 for 8, he made two crucial blocks late to preserve a 108-103 win.

Celtics' offensive rebounding as a counterweight

The Celtics have mitigated their shooting woes with elite offensive rebounding. They grabbed 33.6% of their own missed shots during the regular season, fifth-best in the league, and lead the postseason at 36.8%. Much of that success comes from perimeter players crashing the boards when three-pointers go up. 76ers coach Nick Nurse noted the Celtics' timing and effort. "I think they have a good sense of when the ball is going up like a half-count before most teams," Nurse said. "They're just out of the starting blocks a half-count before you're kind of used to.... They're just flying and jumping. They really are. They're going after it like giving 100 percent effort."

Stakes for Game 6 and beyond

If the Celtics fail to close out the series, White could face the brunt of the blame. His $118 million contract looms large; some analysts have suggested Boston might consider trading him if his playoff struggles persist. White has been a stellar regular-season contributor and a strong defender, but his offensive inconsistency has become a liability. A win in Game 6 would send the Celtics to face the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series. A loss would force a decisive Game 7 in Boston, with the pressure mounting on every player — especially White.

What White's future holds

White's playoff performance has raised questions about his long-term fit in Boston. While he remains a valuable defender and regular-season producer, his inability to replicate that success in the postseason could prompt the front office to explore trade options. The Celtics may need to absorb part of his contract to facilitate a deal. For now, White is focused on the immediate task. "Just got to try to be a little bit more aggressive," he said. "I think I can do that but just take what the game says and go from there." The outcome of Game 6 will likely shape not only the series but also White's future with the franchise.

A defining moment for White and the Celtics

Derrick White's shooting slump has become the central narrative of a series that the Celtics once seemed poised to dominate. His ability to rediscover his form could determine whether Boston advances or faces an early exit. The team's offensive rebounding prowess provides a cushion, but it cannot compensate indefinitely for a key player's struggles. Thursday night in Philadelphia offers White a chance to rewrite the story. Whether he seizes it will resonate far beyond the first round.

The bottom line

• Derrick White has shot 14 of 47 (29.8%) from the field and 7 of 33 (21.2%) from three in the series.
• His playoff averages are down sharply from his regular-season and historical playoff numbers.
• White's confidence appears affected, leading to fewer shot attempts and hesitation on open looks.
• The Celtics lead the series 3-2 but face a must-win Game 6 on the road.
• Boston's elite offensive rebounding has helped offset White's struggles.
• White's future with the Celtics could be in question if his playoff performance does not improve.