Derrick White Buzzer Putback (Game 6, 2023 ECF)

In Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2023, Boston trailed Miami late in the fourth quarter when a final possession unfolded that resulted in Derrick White's putback as the clock expired, giving the Celtics a 104–103 victory and extending the series to a winner-take-all Game 7 [3][5]. The play began with a Boston offensive set in the closing seconds; White described the sequence afterward: "I mean, I was passing it in. Vincent was on me ... when he shot it just tried to crash. Ball came to me, I made the shot," remarks recorded in postgame coverage [5]. The play was instantly replayed across national broadcasts and social channels and was identified as the single play that prevented Miami from closing out the series and instead sent the series back to Miami for a decisive Game 7 [3][5]. The final score and the manner of the finish made the game one of the more dramatic endings to an Eastern Conference Finals game in recent seasons [3][5].

White's buzzer putback matters because it changed the immediate postseason path for both teams: instead of Miami clinching the series in Boston, the Heat were forced to prepare for Game 7 in Miami [3][5]. The play became an iconic moment in the modern rivalry's highlight reel and is often cited when recounting the 2023 series' dramatic swing from Miami's early control to Boston's late comeback.

Immediately the play generated national attention and altered series planning for both teams, with Miami regrouping to prepare for Game 7 and Boston seeking to carry momentum into the decisive contest [3][5]. Although Boston won Game 6, Miami won Game 7 in Boston two days later and advanced to the NBA Finals; nonetheless, White's putback remains a frequently referenced moment from the series and a memorable moment in Celtics postseason history [3][4][5].