![](\"https:\/\/www.bostonsportsjournal.com\/img\/Celtics\/derrick-white-usatsi_24843587_168404155_lowres-1600x900.webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Celtics got away with one.<\/p>\n
Anthony Edwards\u00a0<\/strong>had already hit a couple of 3-pointers to help the Timberwolves stay within striking distance. The Celtics were missing shot after shot and their lead, once 19, was down to only two. With about a minute and a half to go,\u00a0Jaden McDaniels<\/strong>\u00a0ghosted a screen for Edwards, which caused enough confusion between\u00a0Jayson Tatum<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Jrue Holiday<\/strong>\u00a0that Edwards was able to step into a clean, wide-open 3-point look.<\/p>\n Brian Scalabrine<\/strong>\u00a0let out an \u201coh noooo\u201d as the shot went up. It was the type of mistake that deserved an \u201coh no.\u201d The script called for an \u201coh no\u201d because we\u2019ve seen how these things typically play out. The Wolves were going to hit that shot and steal a game once in Boston\u2019s total control.<\/p>\n Maybe the Basketball Gods were too busy laughing with the Football Gods over what was done to the Commanders earlier in the afternoon to notice right away. By the time they caught up to what was happening, the shot had already fallen short and directly into Tatum\u2019s hands. Their only intervention at that point was to cause a Celtics turnover and give Minnesota another chance.<\/p>\n And so Tatum, catching a glimpse of a teammate to his right, lofted a pass that was way too long. The play was doomed, except for one critical element.<\/p>\n Derrick White<\/strong>\u00a0was involved.<\/p>\n \u201cFor some reason, I thought he was so much further ahead than Ant,\u201d Tatum said, ignoring the fact the Basketball Gods had planted that optical illusion. \u201cI guess they was neck-and-neck when they started. But he made me look good .. or made me not look bad, I guess, by going and getting it. \u2026 it was a hell of a play.\u201d<\/p>\n White, of course, got to the ball first, because he almost always gets to loose balls in his vicinity first. He tapped it to himself then tap-danced along the baseline to stay in bounds, stay in control, and get the ball to Holiday, who swung it to\u00a0Jaylen Brown<\/strong>\u00a0for the dagger to hold the Timberwolves off.<\/p>\n On his way back to the bench, White puffed out his chest and declared \u201cI\u2019m fast \u2026 I know I\u2019m fast \u2026\u201d over and over until everyone who needed to hear it was made aware.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a discussion about who was the fastest on the team,\u201d White said. \u201c(I) had to put my case in there.\u201d<\/p>\n He might also have the fastest brain. White\u2019s superpower might just be his processing speed, which allows him to see what\u2019s happening and what needs to be done quicker than others on the floor. His reaction times have allowed him to make spectacular plays that we all see. But it also helps him make equally important plays that we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Early in the first quarter,\u00a0Donte DiVincenzo<\/strong>\u00a0had broken free for what should have been an open corner 3-pointer. White recognized it immediately and closed out hard, but under control to save the play. Tatum called the lost\u00a0Al Horford<\/strong>\u00a0back into the middle of the defense, order was restored, and Brown ended up finishing the play with an incredible blocked shot.<\/p>\n