Boston Celtics guard Derrick White lasted just four minutes on the floor before he made an early departure against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
In the game’s opening quarter, White reached for a loose ball while teammate Marcus Smart ran in his direction, which caused an inadvertent collision between the two. White instantly went down to the floor and grabbed for his neck before being walked off the floor toward the locker room.
The injury was obviously in a sensitive area, and the Celtics shortly after announced that White wouldn’t return due to a neck sprain.
White, who was in the process of making his 37th start this season, also appeared to be on track for a solid performance. The 28-year-old finished with eight points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field, which included a pair of 3-pointers.
With the Celtics already shorthanded with the absence of Jaylen Brown, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla will have to resort to utilizing his depth following White’s leave. This will open the door for guards Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard.
