The Celtics’ all-defensive guard left the Bulls’ NBA Cup game in the second half with a new injury

Boston Celtics All-Defensive Second Team guard Derrick White was forced to leave Boston’s ongoing 2024 Emirates NBA Cup game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night due to a right foot injury, according to Chicago Sports Network broadcaster Stacey King and Adam Amin reported.

Celtics on CLSN reporter Noa Dalzell notes that no further information about White’s status has been provided to the media, other than listing him as doubtful to return.

The 6-foot-4 guard finished his night with 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting from distance (4 of 8 from distance), 6 rebounds, four assists and a steal in just 24:02 minutes.

The Celtics currently lead the Bulls 134-127 with 19.7 seconds remaining in regulation. The Atlanta Hawks (now 3-1 in group play) have already won East Group C thanks to their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday afternoon, but a likely win for Boston on Friday (depending on the final points difference) should keep the Celtics in the hunt a wild card spot in the NBA Cup.

In just his second game since offseason surgery, Boston starter Kristaps Porzingis has 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the floor (2 of 5 from distance) and 5 of 7 shooting from the foul line, plus eight rebounds. As of this writing, All-NBA Boston power forward Jayson Tatum has scored a team-leading 35 points on 12 of 18 shooting from the field (4 of 8 from distance) and 7 of 10 shooting from the stripe, 13 rebounds, four assists, one Block and a steal.

Meanwhile, leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard is on a roll for Boston. He currently has 29 points on 10 of 16 shooting from the field (7 of 11 from long range) and 2 of 2 shooting from the foul line, as well as seven boards.

Two-time Bulls All-Star swingman Zach LaVine had 29 points on 11 of 22 shooting from the floor (4 of 11 from distance) and 3 of 3 shooting from the foul line. Two-time All-Star Bulls center Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 32 points on 11 of 22 shooting from the floor (4 of 11 from distance) and 3 of 3 shooting from the foul line.

A win on Friday would move Boston to a 16-3 overall record on the young season, just 0.5 games behind the 17-3 Cavaliers, who are currently the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Conversely, a loss would drop the Bulls to their previous record of 8-13.

All evening, Boston’s players targeted Vucevic on defense, doing everything they could to switch him to faster, smaller guards in pick-and-roll actions, who would then drive past him like clockwork and make easy plays Perform a layup. Chicago has attempted to counter by sending supportive defenders in every instance, but thanks to the lethality of the Celtics’ jump shooting, the open man often has plenty of room to score.

Read more: Celtics graduates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett react to Kristaps Porzingis’ surprising injury news