Derrick White’s Lightning Putback: The Buzzer-Beater Miracle that Defied History and Kept Celtics’ Dreams Alive

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White executed a miraculous putback to beat the buzzer, securing a thrilling 104-103 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. This unlikely win erased a 0-3 series deficit, leaving the Celtics on the brink of NBA history, as no team (0-150) has ever won a playoff series after being 0-3 down.

In the final moments of the game, Marcus Smart attempted a 27-foot three-pointer that ricocheted around the rim as time dwindled. Suddenly, White appeared “like a flash of lightning,” according to teammate Jaylen Brown, grabbing the rebound and completing the putback. As the buzzer turned red, the ball dropped through the net, prompting a review that confirmed White’s historic feat. He became only the second player in NBA history, after Michael Jordan’s iconic “The Shot” in 1989, to score a buzzer-beater while trailing and facing elimination.

“It felt good. Everybody was asking me, did you get it off, and I was like, yeah, I think so, but it was so close, you never know,” White told reporters after the game. “We’re just happy we won. However, we got to get it done, we got it done, and now it’s on to Game 7”.

Despite overcoming a nine-point deficit with less than four minutes remaining, Miami’s lead was short-lived. With only three seconds left on the clock, Jimmy Butler made three free throws, but the Celtics weren’t finished yet. Jayson Tatum scored 31 points for the Celtics, with Brown and Smart contributing 26 and 24 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Butler led the Heat with 24 points, but had a challenging night.

“Very, very, very entertaining … we were in this same position last year. We can do it. I know that we will do it. We’ve got to go on the road and win in a very, very, very tough environment,” Butler told reporters.

The Celtics will return to TD Garden for a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Monday, with the victor facing the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, which commence on June 1.