Celtics’ Derrick White smiles through the pain after getting tooth chipped in Game 5 of NBA Finals
Jaylen Brown had some fun with his teammate, remarking, “Ooh, you so ugly!” during a third-quarter break in play.
Derrick White is only 29, so he’s not quite long in the tooth yet.
But the 6-foot-4-inch veteran’s teeth took center stage late in the second quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals when the Celtics guard had two teeth knocked loose, and one chipped, while diving for a loose ball.
With 2:30 left in the second quarter, White was diving for a loose ball when the Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II rolled onto his head, flattening White’s face against the TD Garden parquet. While the ball scooted to Al Horford, who found Jaylen Brown for a fastbreak layup, White was left bleeding from the mouth.
He quickly re-entered the game and drilled a 3-pointer to put the Celtics up 60-42 with 1:20 left in the first half. He continued to play his usual minutes in the second half.
Jaylen Brown had some fun with his teammate, remarking, “Ooh, you so ugly!” during a third-quarter break in play.
Celtics fans are no stranger to dentistry factoring into their playoffs. In Game 1 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals, Isaiah Thomas lost a front tooth, then went on to score 33 points in a 123-11 win over the Wizards. After spending four hours at the dentist on the day of Game 2, Thomas scored a career-high 53 points in an overtime win. In addition to the lost tooth, Thomas needed surgery to fix two other teeth, then the temporary bridge he was wearing needed to be replaced during halftime of Game 3.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com