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Jordan Walsh's Defense Is Celtics' Key to Close Out 76ers

ByEfstathios Savvidis|
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Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) reacts after scoring a basket against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) reacts after scoring a basket against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Once again, the Boston Celtics blew out the Philadelphia 76ers on a Sunday, beating their arch-rivals 128-96. The victory puts the Celtics up 3-1 in the series, and they now have a chance to send the 76ers to Cancun Tuesday night. 

Despite having all the momentum, this will be no easy task, as elimination games are typically the hardest to win. With their backs against the wall, the 76ers will rely on the heroics of superstar Tyrese Maxey, who’ll be far more aggressive after attempting just 14 shots in Game 4. 

To counter this, Boston must lean on Jordan Walsh, who’s had some success containing Maxey in this series. 

Jordan Walsh’s Defense Is Pivotal to a Celtics’ Victory

If there’s one thing we can take away from the Game 4 win, it’s that Maxey is the engine of this team. His dynamic speed on the open floor, combined with his lethal shot beyond the arc, makes him incredibly difficult to neutralize.

He’s been almost unstoppable against the Celtics this season, averaging 27.9 points and 8 assists, shooting 46.5 percent from 3-point range on 8.9 attempts. Despite Joel Embiid having a tremendous game after returning from appendicitis surgery, Philadelphia's loss was largely due to Maxey's inability to get into a rhythm. 

However, Boston had something to do with that as the Celtics limited his opportunities thanks to Walsh’s defense. The former Arkansas Razorback held Maxey to just 1/2 from the field on 13 possessions in Game 4, and through four games, Maxey is 2/8 when guarded by Walsh. 

One reason why he’s done a solid job against Maxey is that the Celtics have clogged the driving lanes. While they aren’t as deep into their drop coverage as Game 2, their strategy is that whoever is guarding Maxey must work through the screen and contest his shot as much as possible. 

This has limited Maxey’s scoring options, as he either has to settle for a contested 3-pointer or work extremely hard in isolation to get a good look. With Walsh’s length and quick recovery, Maxey hasn’t been successful driving against him and has had few open looks. 

One instance of this came late in the first quarter when Walsh forced Maxey into a tough fadeaway jumper, which Walsh blocked, ultimately leading to a shot clock violation. On this play, he stayed disciplined, keeping his straight up instead of jumping on top of Maxey for the block. 

For Boston to advance to the next round, it must continue to turn to Walsh as an answer for Maxey, especially if the Celtics continue to play drop coverage on pick-and-rolls. Walsh has proven he can fight through screens and still contest shots. 

If Boston continues to give Walsh 15 minutes or so of action, expect the Celtics to move on to the conference semifinals for the fifth consecutive season. 

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