The Celtics (10-8) delivered the kind of gritty, resilient performance they’d been searching for, outlasting the Pistons 117-114 on Wednesday evening at TD Garden.

It was the type of win that required poise, shot-making, and a whole lot of perseverance - especially against a Detroit (15-3) team that arrived riding a 13-game winning streak. Boston snapped it by leaning heavily on long-range shooting, hitting 46.5% of its threes and getting significant contributions from across the roster.

But no storyline loomed larger than Derrick White’s second-half eruption.

After weeks of fighting through a frustrating shooting slump, the veteran guard authored one of his sharpest performances of the season, finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in 31 minutes of action. His fingerprints were on every major moment of the game, but the long ball defined his night.

White went 6 for 11 from deep, burying several massive triples in crunch time and jolting the Celtics whenever they flirted with letting momentum slip. It wasn’t just the numbers, it was the timing.

White had entered the game shooting only 30.3% from beyond the arc this season, a surprising dip for one of Boston’s most stable two-way players since arriving ahead of the trade deadline in 2022. Yet on Wednesday, he flipped the script entirely.

He poured in 25 of his 27 points after halftime, going 7 for 10 from the field and 6 for 8 from three over the final two quarters alone. The Celtics didn’t simply need his scoring, they relied on it to survive a seesaw matchup that stayed close from tip to buzzer.

A major takeaway from the win was Boston’s three-point volume and depth of contributions. The Celtics finished 20 for 43 from beyond the arc, and eight different players knocked down at least one triple. Against a Detroit team that typically controls the interior, Boston’s perimeter production served as the great equalizer. Even without Neemias Queta available - a noteworthy absence given the Pistons’ physicality inside - the Celtics found ways to string together stops and offset the size disadvantage with perimeter firepower.

Another important theme was Boston’s competitive composure in a game that featured constant lead changes. Neither side ever felt fully in command, and the Celtics had to match Detroit’s physicality, pace, and energy for all 48 minutes. The Pistons pushed the hosts repeatedly, but Boston’s ability to respond - especially through White’s shot-making and a handful of timely defensive plays - ultimately dictated the outcome.

The Celtics also quietly extended their positive momentum. With the win, Boston moved to two games over .500 on the season and notched their second straight victory after defeating Orlando (11-8) earlier in the week. In a year where they’ve experienced stretches of uneven play, stacking wins carries real value, particularly as they prepare to leave home for a challenging back-to-back.

That road swing begins Saturday against the Timberwolves (10-8) before shifting to Cleveland (12-7) on Sunday. Those matchups will test Boston’s consistency, depth, and ability to execute in tough environments.

But Wednesday’s win offered a blueprint: balanced scoring, heavy reliance on the three-point shot, and the kind of individual spark White delivered in the second half.

If the Celtics can bottle that version of Derrick White - the one who breaks games wide open and disrupts opponents on defense - they’ll be positioned well heading into the next stretch.

For now, though, Boston can feel confident that one of its most reliable players has finally shaken off his early-season slump, and that their best basketball might still be ahead of them.

Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.