The Celtics saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night against the Bucks but there was another bright spot in the performance.
Third-year forward Jordan Walsh (20 points) nearly matched his career-high in scoring (22), making him Thursday’s “Name to Know” Player of the Game. The Name to Know Player of the Game is sponsored by John’s Sewer and Drain Cleaning, the Name to Know when your drains don’t flow.
Walsh remains on an absolute offensive tear since being inserted into the starting five last month. He finished with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting against the Bucks along with 8 rebounds (4 offensive) and 3 steals in the 116-101 defeat.
It was Walsh’s third game scoring in double figures in his last four contests, keeping up the momentum of what has been the best stretch of basketball during his Celtics career. Walsh has been an invaluable defender since his insertion into the starting five last month but his offensive progression is turning heads now.
In the month of December, Walsh is now averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting an incredible 81 percent from the field and 75 percent from 3-point range. Those hot shooting numbers continued on Thursday night but he was the only one who had an efficient night across Boston’s roster. The Celtics missed 16 straight 3-point attempts at one point in the second half and shot just 26 percent from the field after intermission in the defeat.
Walsh and the Celtics will have three days now to regroup before trying to bounce back on Monday night against the Pistons at TD Garden.