Derrick White delivered a standout two-way display as the Boston Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 129-119, matching an NBA record for blocks by a guard. White finished with seven blocks, plus 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the road win.
That stat line placed White alongside Doug Christie, George Gervin, Dennis Johnson and Tracy McGrady for single-game blocks by a guard. White also became the first guard in NBA history to produce at least 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists and seven blocks in one game.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted how this performance reflects a broader change in White's responsibilities. "I think a couple of them came on ball, a couple of them came off ball," Mazzulla said, describing the guard's shot-blocking
display against Utah and the different defensive situations involved.
Mazzulla linked that activity to Boston's reshaped squad following a challenging offseason. Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the playoffs, while new salary cap rules forced trades involving Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet. Those moves increased the need for backcourt defence, with White asked to take tougher matchups.
Mazzulla explained that White often guards the main perimeter threat when Boston uses smaller line-ups. "And so I think this year his role has grown. When we went with Derrick, Payton [Pritchard], Anfernee [Simons] and Jaylen [Brown], and, you know, he has to guard the other team's best players. "
The coach detailed how White reads actions and positioning. "So we got a couple on pick-and-rolls, on pull-up threes at the beginning of the game when he’s kind of roaming, and on guys that we could shift off of. " "He does a good job of coming in and knowing when to help and when not to. " "So just his defensive versatility [has improved]. "
DWhite put on a masterclass performance making him tonights @Gatorade Player of the Game pic.twitter.com/CTBy3tR3LeBoston Celtics (@celtics) December 31, 2025
The result moved the Celtics to 20-12, placing the team third in the Eastern Conference, with Tatum still aiming to return before the playoffs. Boston now prepare for a testing early-2026 road stretch before returning to TD Garden.
Boston’s immediate schedule features Western Conference opposition before an early home date.
| Team | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Sacramento Kings | Away | Start of 2026 |
| Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Clippers | Away | Early 2026 |
| Boston Celtics | Chicago Bulls | Home | 5 January 2026 |
Those upcoming games offer another test of Boston's depth and defensive structure, with White’s expanded role central to plans. The performance against Utah underlined how the guard supports scoring, playmaking and rim protection while the Celtics await greater clarity on Tatum's recovery timeline.
