Derrick White explained what happened when his teeth got knocked out, and why he returned vs. Sixers
“After the glue and the mouthpiece I figured, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’"
If you’ve ever put off going to the dentist when you know you have a solid reason for being there, you’re not alone.
Derrick White had a temporary dental bridge that he was supposed to swap out for a permanent one.
Then, he got elbowed in the face, and the bridge fell to the floor.
“So, I got hit in the face,” White explained. “But, they were temporary and I was supposed to go in by like two weeks ago, but I kept pushing it off to get like my permanent ones. But, I’m going to go tomorrow.”
On Thursday, White got whacked by an elbow from Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre Jr., who was attempting to elevate for a floater in the paint with 7:25 remaining in the second quarter. The ball bounced off the back of the rim, right back to Oubre, who laid it in for an easy two points.
Meanwhile, White grabbed his face and stumbled around the paint until he spotted the bridge on the floor. He grabbed it, put a towel up to his face, and headed for the locker room.
“Luckily they were like right there and I picked them up,” White said. “Then we went to the back and I was trying to debate how I would go back and then got some glue and I put the mouthpiece on and we were good to go.”
It wasn’t a pretty sight, White said, but he was back on the court by the start of the third quarter.
It wasn’t quite Game 5 of the NBA Finals like the first time White got his teeth knocked out. This edition of the Boston-Philadelphia rivalry seemed to feature more star power on the sidelines than the court.
Sure, Jayson Tatum dropped 35 points, but Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford were in street clothes. Philadelphia was missing Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.
The Celtics led the 12th-place Sixers by 18 at the half while White was debating his return. Ultimately, White decided that he was able to play.
“After the glue and the mouthpiece I figured, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’” White said. “As long as I didn’t take the mouthpiece out. So, just get back out there and keep the mouthpiece in. That’s kind of how I thought about it.”
What began as a promising shooting night spiraled into a rough one. He finished 4-14 after making his first two shot attempts of the game. He air-balled a 3-point attempt not long after he stepped back onto the court in the third.
But, on a night where the Celtics were shorthanded, White ate up minutes and allowed the Celtics to keep a veteran presence on the floor.
Drew Peterson made his first career start Thursday night. Neemias Queta was also in the starting lineup. Baylor Scheierman played a career-high 30 minutes. Torrey Craig, who was acquired at the trade deadline to fill the Celtics’ 14th roster spot, played than 20 minutes.
White’s toughness impressed Jayson Tatum, who said he checked his own teeth after seeing White’s bridge fall out.
“You hate to see someone dealing with the same thing over and over again, but I was surprised he came back,” Tatum said. “He’s a competitor, hates not to play, always wants to be out there, so I’m glad he’s doing alright.”
White was asked if he’ll be ready in time to play the Lakers Saturday night after he sees the dentist.
“Yeah. I told you I’m going to the dentist (Friday),” White said. “We’ll be good.”
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