Locked On Celtics – Electrifying: Boston Celtics STUN Detroit Pistons with Derrick White HEROICS in WILD Finish

Host: John Karalis
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

John Karalis breaks down the Boston Celtics' gritty and electrifying 117-114 victory over the Detroit Pistons, calling it the team's best win (and best atmosphere) of the season so far. With standout heroics from Derrick White in the second half and gritty play from unexpected supporting cast members, the Celtics overcame early shooting woes and rebounding issues to stun the top-seeded Pistons. Karalis dissects the turning points, highlights key contributions, and discusses the strategic implications of Joe Mazzulla's recent rotations, especially the use of small-ball lineups and bench players.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Atmosphere and Significance of the Win

• Opening take: Electric energy at the Garden and a cathartic moment for Boston fans after frustrating previous games.
• The Celtics had been middling (10-8 coming in) and struggling late in games; this was a crucial hold-on win against the conference leader.
• Notable Quote:

  “Jaylen Brown after the game said, ‘This was our best crowd of the season.’ And yeah, absolutely, this was the best game of the season.” (02:32)

2. Early Game Struggles and Role Player Grit

• The Celtics started ice-cold, unable to convert good looks. An illustrative sequence in the first quarter saw Derrick White miss a three, sprint to the opposite corner for another miss, then a teammate miss near the foul line before the Pistons turned it into a fast-break dunk. (05:34–06:49)
• Karalis on the psychological toll:

  "That could be demoralizing...but the Pistons never could quite pull away in this game." (06:56)

• Second Quarter Turnaround:
  • Baylor Scheierman ignited a shift, hitting threes and making winning hustle plays, especially a sprawling dive and behind-the-back pass during a crucial 9-0 Celtics run (08:00–08:55).
  • Another highlight: Derrick White’s sprinting chase-down steal and subsequent alley-oop to Josh Minott (09:50), which energized the crowd and changed the momentum.

3. Derrick White’s Second Half Heroics

• Stat line: 25 points, 7-10 FGs (6-8 from three), 5-5 FTs plus 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals—all in the second half (15:28)
• Karalis’ assessment:

  “Derrick was incredible. They do not win this game without Derrick White. He was the one that was hitting these fourth quarter shots—these bombs from three.” (15:43)

• Impact on the Outcome: Every time the Celtics needed a bucket late, White delivered. The math—Celtics were +27 at the three-point line despite losing many hustle categories—was a key factor.
• Notable Quote (on White):

  “It was just classic Derrick White at his absolute peak best. Hopefully a springboard—to Derek playing better across the board and maybe stacking some of these up.” (15:36–15:54)

4. Supporting Cast Contributions and the Small-Ball Lineup

• Bench Standouts:

  • Peyton Pritchard: 16 points (4-7 from deep), provided steady shooting (16:45)
  • Baylor Scheierman: 3-5 from three, pivotal hustle moments
  • Josh Minott: 2-3 from deep, plus switchable defense despite an unorthodox shooting form (17:25)
  • Amari Williams: Played 15 solid minutes as a raw two-way, protected the rim, contributed energy—earned Karalis’s curiosity for future games (18:00–19:35)

• Small-ball Dynamics:

  • Without size (no Neemias Queta, ineffective Luca Garza), Joe Mazzulla leaned on a Minott-at-center look, spurring additional energy and focus.

  “The small ball lineup...snapped everybody’s focus in the place. Like, they didn’t sit there and say, ’Oh, we got this big dude, just rely...’ The Celtics said, ‘We’re too small. We really gotta work hard.’” (20:58)

  • Suggestion that, given the team's pace promises, going small could become a more regular identity—play fast, spread teams out, force bigger opponents into uncomfortable matchups.

5. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: Efficiency and Winning Plays

• Jaylen Brown: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks (28:00)
• Not the most efficient (33 points on 32 shots), but crucial in the second quarter and made a difference late.
• Clutch Box-out: On the fateful missed free throw at the end, Brown boxed out Isaiah Stewart to clear the rebound for Pritchard, sealing the win (28:50).
• Karalis:

  “That box out was really great because that helped Pritchard swoop in and get the rebound and that ended the game.” (29:16)

6. Controversial Endgame Foul & Officiating

• Debated three-point foul by Cade Cunningham at the end—originally called on the floor, changed to shooting foul. Karalis argues the refs were correct and credits Cunningham’s IQ:

  “Cade Cunningham is...a smart player. He knew the Celtics were trying to reach in and foul, he gathered and went up for the shot.” (30:46)

• Fans upset, but Karalis rationalizes post-victory.
  • “I think the call was correct. … That was actually the correct call. So don’t hate me. The Celtics won. I’m glad they won.” (31:44)

7. Rebounding Issues: Living with the Trade-off

• Celtics lost the rebounding (especially offensive boards, giving up 21)—a continuing issue.
• Mazzulla’s philosophy: If you can’t rebound, you must compensate by causing turnovers, scoring on your own second-chances, and shooting well from three.
• Karalis’ summary:

  “We’re seeing some of the stuff that Joe’s been talking about starting to come around and come to fruition, which is great. This is progress.” (34:38)

• Celtics won by hitting 20 threes to the Pistons’ 11 and did enough in other categories (like points off turnovers) to keep Detroit’s size from overwhelming them.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Karalis on the Celtics’ crowd:

  “Jaylen Brown after the game said this was our best crowd of the season." (02:34)

• On Derrick White’s second half:

  “Every time the ball left Derek's hand, that thing went in...It was just classic Derrick White at his absolute peak best.” (15:46)

• On Joe Mazzulla’s small-ball strategy:

  “Almost in a kind of reverse psychology way, Joe was like, yeah, the small ball lineup...snapped everybody’s focus in the place.” (20:52)

• On the critical late-game box out:

  “The box out at the end of the game when Cade missed the last free throw, [Jaylen] boxed out Isaiah Stewart all the way to like the opposite elbow. That could have easily been a foul on Stewart, too.” (28:42)

• On the controversial foul call:

  “I think the call was correct… That was actually the correct call. So don’t hate me. The Celtics won. I’m glad they won.” (31:45)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:10] – Game introduction and fan/crowd atmosphere
• [05:34] – First quarter breakdown; Boston’s early shooting woes
• [08:00] – Baylor Scheierman’s hustle and the pivotal second quarter
• [09:50] – Derrick White’s chase-down steal igniting momentum
• [14:27] – Summary of Derrick White’s second-half heroics
• [15:43] – Deep dive on White’s shooting, game math, and impact
• [17:25] – Bench and supporting cast contributions
• [18:30] – Amari Williams’ first meaningful NBA moments
• [20:50] – The impact and logic behind small-ball lineups
• [26:20] – Jaylen Brown’s winning plays and efficiency discussion
• [28:50] – Brown’s crucial clutch box-out on final free throw
• [30:46] – Explanation and analysis of the last-minute foul/review
• [33:25] – Mazzulla’s approach to offsetting rebounding deficiencies
• [34:38] – Signs of progress and the bigger picture for the season

Takeaways for Celtics Fans & the NBA

• The win was a demonstration of resilience and adaptability, especially after prior letdowns.
• Derrick White showed star-level shotmaking and poise under pressure—this game could be a turning point for his offensive consistency.
• Joe Mazzulla is open to flexible, smaller rotations that ramp up intensity—a potential identity shift for Boston.
• Bench depth and hustle plays (Scheierman, Pritchard, Minott, Williams) made the difference.
• Rebounding woes remain, but the Celtics have ways to paper over them if they shoot well and force enough turnovers.
• With upcoming tests against Minnesota and Cleveland, Karalis suggests that “stealing” such gritty wins now makes life easier as the season progresses.

For further insights, listen to the postgame episode, and check out the next day's Thanksgiving review podcast for a deeper breakdown of the tactical nuances from this Celtics' signature win.