Jordan Walsh Stifles Tyrese Maxey in Celtics' 128-96 Game 4 Win

Jordan Walsh helped shape the Celtics’ 128-96 road win in Game 4 by pressuring Tyrese Maxey and forcing Philadelphia into uncomfortable possessions. Boston moved one win away from advancing to the second round, and Walsh’s 12 minutes added a defensive edge that was easy to miss behind the bigger scoring totals.

Walsh and Maxey

Walsh played 12 minutes and forced a shot clock violation in Game 4, then helped turn another possession by making Maxey move the ball in a pick-and-roll sequence. He also forced Maxey left on a trip that ended with an offensive foul on Joel Embiid.

That work matched the role Walsh had already shown against Philadelphia in the regular season. In two games against the 76ers, he held Maxey to 1-of-10 shooting when matched up directly with him.

Celtics scoring burst

Boston did not need one player to carry the night. Payton Pritchard scored 32 points in 34 minutes, and Jayson Tatum finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists.

Walsh had described the challenge before Game 4 in plain terms: “I actually think we’ve done a great job,” he said of the Celtics’ defensive effort against Maxey. He also said defending a player like that requires “a lot of effort — a lot of technical things have to know but most of all just playing as hard as possible.”

Maxey pressure

Before the playoffs, Walsh said part of his success came from “taking away tendencies and then knowing the small things that get under his skin.” He added, “Like if he wants to go right and do a step back, just don’t let him do that. Make him do something else.”

He also said “everything is about balance: when to be aggressive, when to back off, when to pick up high, when to pick up low.” That balance showed up in Game 4, where Boston’s defensive possessions around Maxey helped the Celtics leave Philadelphia with a 128-96 result and a clearer path to the next round.