A game for the ages
White delivers on both ends in a breakout performance
OKLAHOMA CITY — LaMarcus Aldridge left the AT&T Center with the game ball after scoring a career-high 56 points in the Spurs’ 154-147 doubleovertime thriller over the Thunder on Thursday.
Derrick White also exited the building with a souvenir, albeit one that isn’t suitable for a trophy case or mantelpiece.
Still, the bandage covering the gash on White’s forehead was a badge of honor of sorts for the second-year guard after he finished with a careerhigh 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, eight assists, five rebounds, two steals and the spectacular block the left him bloodied and bruised.
“I think it was his elbow,” White said, referring to his collision with Jerami Grant after he blocked the 6foot-9 forward’s dunk attempt with 1:42 left in the second OT and the
Spurs nursing a 148-144 lead.
Spurs head trainer Will Sevening took care of the cut, allowing White to finish the game and become the first Spur in his first two seasons to finish a contest with at least 23 points, eight assists and five rebounds since Tony Parker had 32, 10 and five in a win over Chicago on Dec. 28, 2002.
“I’m OK, but it was pretty bloody for a while,” said White after logging 48 minutes.
Grant looked like he was on his way to an easy slam after collecting a no-look, one-handed pass from Dennis Schroder that zipped between Aldridge and White.
“I don’t know who drove it (into the lane), but Grant was the dunker, and I was just trying to go up there and make a play,” White said.
He did, recovering to swat the ball before Grant’s elbow caught him as they fell to the court. It was just one of many impressive moments for White, who is rapidly becoming an impact player on both ends of the floor after missing the first nine games of the season with an injured foot.
“Man, it’s great to see,” DeMar DeRozan said of White’s development. “I am always a fan of seeing guys develop. To see him bounce back from injury, work his way back slowly but surely, and see how comfortable he is now within that span of a few months, it’s definitely awesome to see.”
Thursday’s game marked the eighth straight in which White has scored in double figures. Over that span, he’s averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 66.6 percent from the floor.
Over the past five games, White is shooting 76.2 percent from the floor while averaging 17.8 points per game. It's the highest field-goal percentage in a fivegame span by a Spur since 7foot-2 Artis Gilmore shot 76.5 percent in 1986.
White is set to make his 13th consecutive start at point guard tonight in a rematch with the Thunder. The Spurs are 9-3 in the previous 12 games he started.
“I just want to go out there and contribute in any way possible,” White said. “These last couple of weeks, I’ve been feeling more confident and comfortable out there. Each game, I just try to get better and better and try to help the team win.”
He accomplished that goal Thursday by being at his best when it counted most in a nationally televised game.
White finished regulation with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a clutch pull-up 3-pointer he drained with 21.4 seconds left to give the Spurs a 129-126 lead. He scored on driving layups in each of the extra periods and sealed the win by following a steal of an ill-advised Terrance Ferguson pass by hitting two free throws with 12.6 seconds left for a six-point cushion.
“White made some timely shots that were difficult shots … on the run,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.
White also had two assists in the first OT, setting up Aldridge for a layup and a 7-foot hook shot.
“One time, (Aldridge) said, ‘Just keep giving me the ball,’ ” White said. “So I said, ‘Yeah, each time down the floor we are coming to you, big fella.’ It was a special day, and I’m happy for him.”
After watching White’s allaround performance, coach Gregg Popovich reflected on how the Colorado native is another example of the Spurs using their G League team in Austin to develop talent.
“Derrick has carved out an NBA career,” Popovich said of the 29th pick in the 2017 draft. “He did a great job in the G League last year, so it’s nice to see him playing the way he is and getting more and more confident all the time.”
And picking up some mementos along the way.
“It was fun,” White said of Thursday night’s memorable game. “It was a lot of fun.”