The Boston Celtics kept their early-season momentum rolling with a 146–101 win over the Washington Wizards, a night dominated by pace, ball movement and one young forward who continues rewriting his place in the rotation.
Boston played without Jaylen Brown due to illness, yet still controlled the game wire to wire. Derrick White continued his recent form, producing a season-high 30 points and near triple-double. And in the middle of it, one of the youngest players on the roster delivered the most complete stretch of his NBA career.
He didn’t just help the Celtics win. He helped shape the story of the night, and the season so far.
Walsh’s Career Night That Shows Real Growth
Third year forward Jordan Walsh set a new career high with 22 points and didn’t miss a single shot. He poured in 13 points in the second quarter alone, attacked closeouts, ran the floor and finished plays that weren’t available to him last season.
The numbers stand out, but it was the way they happened that mattered. Walsh moved with confidence, cut with purpose, and once again looked like a player who belongs.
And while the offense drew the spotlight, he barely seemed aware of it.
After the game, Walsh told Noa Dalzell: “Honestly, I be forgetting what happens on offense. When I score, I lowkey forget what happened, I’m so focused on getting back on defense… defense always sticks with me…if I hit a shot, I never celebrate.”
That mindset has become his identity. And it’s fueling his rise.
A Defensive Tone the Celtics Needed
GettyJordan Walsh, Boston Celtics.
Even before the scoring burst, the Celtics trusted Walsh to take key matchups. Against Washington, he defended Khris Middleton for large stretches and held up physically. He jumped passing lanes. He fought through screens. Possessions flipped because of his effort.
His leap isn’t coming out of nowhere. It’s the product of the work no one sees. Joe Mazzulla praised the defensive tone he set. And his teammates have echoed the same thing for weeks.
In his last 10 games, he’s averaging over eight points on efficient shooting, including a strong mark from three. But his value still lives on the defensive end. The Celtics needed someone who could change possessions with energy. He’s doing that nightly.
It’s no coincidence that since he entered the starting lineup, Boston has gone 8–2.
Why This Matters for Boston
The Celtics don’t need Walsh to be a star. They need him to be dependable, and he’s getting there fast. With Neemias Queta emerging at center and the rotation adjusting on the fly without Jayson Tatum, this is exactly the kind of internal growth that keeps the season stable. He gives Boston size on the wing, speed in transition and a defender who can take pressure off Brown and White. These are the developments that shape where a season goes.
What’s Next for the Celtics?
The win in Washington pushed Boston another step forward during an important stretch of their schedule. The development on the wing matters, but so does the momentum they’re starting to build as they stabilize the rotation without Tatum.
Next up is a tougher test.
The Celtics return to TD Garden, where they’ll host the Los Angeles Lakers.
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