Jordan Walsh isn’t just flashing potential anymore — he’s becoming one of their most reliable players on both ends of the floor
The Celtics' offense faltered after halftime Thursday, falling 116-101 in Milwaukee and ending their five-game winning streak. Boston stands at 15-10; Milwaukee, which had lost 10 of 12, improved to 11-15.
Boston started strong with a series of threes, but Milwaukee, still without Giannis Antetokounmpo, kept the game close and eventually took control.
After halftime, Boston’s offense stalled, scoring just 13 points in the third quarter. The Bucks widened the gap, turning a close contest into a double-digit lead.
On its surface, all of that would constitute a disappointing game for a team that has seemingly turned a corner over the last month. For the hottest team in the NBA to lose to a team without their biggest star in the midst of a losing stretch they haven’t experienced in quite some time, even the most reasonable of fans would be vindicated to feel ticked off as they went to bed after that game.
But with how long an NBA season is - in the grand scheme of things, this loss is infinitesimal to the ultimate outcome of what the 2025-26 season will be for Boston.
Did they miss way too many threes in the third quarter? Absolutely, without a doubt, yes. But let’s be honest - we know that style of play ain’t changing any time soon for a Joe Mazzulla-coached team. Not in his DNA to do so. This, ultimately, is what sank Boston on Thursday. No greater character study needed. Bad shooting night.
What Celtics fans should be focusing on after Thursday’s loss is the continued stellar play of Jordan Walsh, who made significant contributions on both ends of the floor. His defensive intensity disrupted Milwaukee’s rhythm, while his efficient scoring underscored his potential as a high-end rotational player in the NBA for years to come.
Walsh stayed hot, contributing 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting, along with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. His 3 of 4 shooting from long range provided crucial spacing, and his lockdown defense on multiple possessions repeatedly stifled the opposition, underscoring his impact as arguably the game's top defender (sans Antetokounmpo, of course, but still noteworthy nonetheless).
Walsh has turned December into his personal showcase, averaging 15.5 points on a scorching 81% from the floor and 75% from deep. He remained efficient on Thursday, but the rest of Boston’s lineup fell short, missing 16 straight threes in the second half and shooting just 26% after halftime. That cold streak was their undoing.
It feels crazy to say this given what we were saying about Walsh this preseason, but here it goes:
Boston needs to get Walsh more involved during cold shooting stretches. He’s clearly found his stroke and could have helped turn things around. Even one made three during that time could have flipped the momentum, reducing the opponent’s fastbreak chances, allowing Boston to set its defense and offense more effectively in the next possessions.
All of that can start with one made bucket from deep during stretches like this. Walsh’s shot might look a little more awkward than the rest of the more traditional scorers on the team, but that doesn’t mean it’s automatically any less effective.
If it works, it works.
I will continue freezing-cold-taking myself when it comes to Walsh, because watching his growth over the last month might just be the most fun storyline of this season so far.
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.