Three stars from Wednesday’s slate of NBA playoff games

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) after making a three-point basket during the third quarter of Game 5 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Miami Heat at TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics got revenge and eliminated the Miami Heat, while the Dallas Mavericks went up 3-2 on the Los Angeles Clippers. Here are three stars from the NBA playoffs Wednesday night.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White | 25 points, five 3PM

For the second-straight game, White blasted the Heat early, helping Boston take a big lead they’d hold the rest of the game. He had 10 points in the game’s first seven minutes, and after the first of White’s five three-pointers 1:12 into the game, the Celtics never trailed again in their 118-84 win.

For the series, White averaged 22.4 points on 57.7% shooting. He made 21 of his 44 three-point attempts and swatted five shots. What’s scary for Boston’s next opponent is that offense isn’t even White’s specialty.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic | 35 points, 10 assists

Doncic has a sprained knee, but that didn’t stop him from flirting with a triple-double in Dallas’ 123-93 win over Los Angeles, taking a 3-2 series lead. He shot 14-for-26 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line, and shook off a slow shooting start to make two of his three second-half three-pointers.

In the third quarter when the Mavericks effectively put the game away, Doncic scored 14 of his 35 points and had three assists. He was involved in 21 of Dallas’ 33 points in the climactic stretch.

The only thing Doncic didn’t do was complete a triple-double — he was three rebounds short — but he’s likely happy with a 3-2 lead.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving | 14 points, +35

Irving struggled from three-point range, shooting only 1-for-7, but he went 5-for-7 on two-pointers, dished six assists, got two steals and seemed to be in the middle of every monster Dallas run.

Irving was simply a great team team player in Game 5, a huge reason why Dallas outscored the Clippers by 35 points in the 36 minutes he was on the floor.

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