San Antonio Spurs point guard Derrick White provided the performance of the evening on Thursday as he led the Spurs to a 118-108 Game 3 victory against the Denver Nuggets.
Following White's 36-point explosion, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone described the 24-year-old's attitude coming into the game as if he “hasn't eaten in two days.”
Malone hit the nail on the head here, as this was definitely White's best performance to date throughout his two years in the league. On top of the game-high 36 points he scored (on 15-of-21 shooting), the 6-foot-4 guard also accounted for one three-pointer, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in 33 minutes of play.
The dynamic duo of LaMarcus Aldridge (18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) and DeMar DeRozan (25 points, five assists, three steals) also did their bit for the Spurs, who now hold a 2-1 advantage against the second-seeded Nuggets.
It was All-Star big man Nikola Jokic who led the way for Denver, logging 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, along with three three-pointers, eight rebounds, and seven assists, but it would not be enough to ruin White's big night.
Derrick White was absolutely feeling it on Thursday night, and this is not the type of outburst we should expect from him night in and night out. However, if he continues to come out with the same type of hunger as he did in Game 3, then surely, he will prove to be a pivotal piece in San Antonio's current postseason run.