Maine
Why Jordan Walsh asked to spend his day off with the Maine Celtics
PORTLAND, MAINE — After the Celtics fell to the Grizzlies on Saturday night — their fifth game in seven nights — the players all looked forward to a highly-anticipated day off.
But, Jordan Walsh, who saw limited on-court minutes with Boston during that stretch, just wanted to play more basketball.
So, when he realized that the Maine Celtics’ Sunday game at the Portland Expo coincided with a day off for the parent club, he wanted to play. So far this season, after spending most of his rookie season in Portland, the second-year forward hasn’t spent a day in the G League.
“I asked if I could come down and play in this game during practice yesterday,” Walsh said after the Maine Celtics’ 109-108 loss to the Greensboro Swarm on Sunday. “I asked some of my PD [player development] coaches.”
The Celtics were happy to accommodate his request.
“Brad [Stevens] called me, and said, ‘you want to go down?’” Walsh said. “I was like, ‘can I play in a game real quick?’ and he was like, ‘yeah.’
Not only did the Celtics coaching staff grant Walsh his wish, but they even accompanied him; director of player development Craig Luschenat and player enhancement coach Nana Foulland both made the trip up to Portland on their off day, too.
Jordan Walsh excelled in his Maine Celtics season debut
Walsh spent most of last year in Maine after getting drafted No. 38 overall in 2023. But, he has spent all of his sophomore season with Boston so far, capitalizing on some early-season injuries to Sam Hauser (back) and Jaylen Brown (hip). In sixteen games played, Walsh averaged 9.3 minutes and drew praise from his teammates.
“Whenever his number’s been called, he’s done an amazing job,” said Jrue Holiday. “It’s not so much about the scoring — it’s more about how he’s impacted the game.”
Walsh flourished in his return to Maine, finishing with 20 points (8-12 FG), 5 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal. He also hit 3 of 7 three-pointers and defended at a high level.
Perhaps most telling, he finished the night with a plus/minus of +21, the highest of any player on either team.
“I thought he was phenomenal today — with his confidence, with the screening, with his defense,” said Maine head coach Tyler Lashbrook. “I felt really comfortable with him out there, and I have seen him take steps over the summer and then, through August and September, and that translated to some playing time with Boston. And you saw it today — he was really, really, really good.”
Jordan Walsh just hit a big three to cut the Maine Celtics deficit to 3 points with 4 mins to play
He’s up to 16 points on 6-10 shooting pic.twitter.com/dIcaW84SQe
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 8, 2024
Lashbrook, who was also a member of the player development staff last year in Boston, loved that Walsh took the initiative to ask to play in Maine.
“That was exciting to hear — he wants to be a part of this,” Lashbrook said. “He wants to play. At the end of the day, he’s a basketball player. That’s what these guys do — they want to play.”
For Walsh, it was a no-brainer.
“It just made sense,” Walsh said. “We had a couple off days. These guys had a back-to-back. I know maybe some of them want to rest a little bit. But, more than anything, I just wanted to come play.”
Plus, he returned to a hero’s welcome. Walsh became a fan favorite in Maine during his rookie season and was met with raucous applause when his name was first announced.
“I felt like Marcus Smart in Boston when I checked into the game,” Walsh said. “It was pretty cool. Then, they blew up on the first bucket too, which was also pretty cool. It shows that here in Maine, they have a lot of love for me.”
Jordan Walsh got a loud ovation from the crowd in Maine when his name was announced today:
“I felt like Marcus Smart in Boston. It was pretty cool.” pic.twitter.com/0fdFZfjvfm
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 8, 2024
Making the trip up north also meant that Walsh, who prefers the food in Portland to the food in Boston, could dine at some of his favorite local restaurants from his time in Maine. After his postgame media availability, he was eager to head out to Leeward, his favorite restaurant.
Then, he headed back to Boston, where he’ll rejoin the Boston Celtics.
The Maine Celtics fell to the Swarm after a controversial late whistle
A come-from-behind game ended up in disappointment for the Maine Celtics thanks to a late-game call. The G League adheres to the Elam Ending rules for overtime, meaning that rather than play for an allotted amount of time, teams play to 7 overtime points.
With the score tied at 108 (and the target score set at 109), rookie Anton Watson appeared to steal the ball on the final play with a clear lane to the basket. The referees called a late foul, and subsequently, a technical foul was issued on an incredulous Tyler Lashbrook.
Lashbrook was tight-lipped about the call postgame, simply noting he would “disagree very kindly” with the referees’ decision to call a foul.
The Celtics’ other rookie, Baylor Scheierman, noted he didn’t have a good look in real-time, but that “looking at the replay, obviously it looked pretty clean.”
Regardless of the game’s outcome, Walsh was glad he decided to make the trip.
“I would have been just sitting in my crib doing nothing,” Walsh said with a smile. “This is a way better alternative.”
Maine
Hidden Gem Maine Japanese Restaurant Serves Sushi, Appetizers on Huge Wooden Boats
How far would you be willing to travel for delicious food or a unique experience? What about both?
There’s a restaurant in Lincoln, Maine, called Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express that you might want to consider visiting.
This small eatery specializes in express-style Japanese dining, boasting a 4.7/5 on Google, but it’s the visually mesmerizing and delicious super-sized sushi and appetizer platter boats that truly stand out.
Sushi Boat at Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express in Lincoln, Maine
Sure, Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express has a variety of foods to choose from when you’re feeling hungry, and there’s even some Chinese and Thai options as well.
But there’s something about ordering a meal that comes served up on a large wooden boat that sets the tone for a truly one-of-a-kind meal.
The Lincoln restaurant has that in both its sushi boat and Tokyo boat.
Let’s just say they are a feast for the eyes and mouth.
Looking at Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express’ menu highlights its sushi boat options, either for one or two, at $86 or $99, respectively. So go big or go home, right?
When Did Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express Open in Lincoln, Maine?
Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express is a relatively new venture, having opened in 2024 in Lincoln.
Right from its grand debut, the restaurant noted on its Facebook page that from “savory Hibachi and Teriyaki to Bento boxes and Sushi, every dish is crafted with fresh ingredients and mouthwatering flavors that will have you coming back for more.”
Not only was there a positive response from the outset, but that excitement for the restaurant has continued today, especially with the incredibly fun boat service loaded with food.
Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express
Here’s just a few recent reviews:
“Great food, friendly service fair prices! Worth the 70 mile round trip! Will be seeing us again!”
“The portions are very generous, the food was very tasty and all ingredients were fresh and well prepared.”
“The man that was there running things and cooking was SO friendly and helpful and hospitable. He kept bringing things out for us to try and talked to us and treated us like family.”
READ MORE: Hit Up All 5 Maine Restaurants Featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives’ for the Ultimate Road Trip
At the end of the day, you could order a normal plate of sushi, or you could go all in and get a super boat of it. Sounds like a drive to this hidden gem location for a special meal seems like an adventure worth setting sail for.
Hungry for some sushi?
40 Maine Restaurants That are Worth a Long Drive to Get to
Thanks to our great listeners we were able to compile a list of many of Maine’s great restaurants, cafes, pubs and bakeries that are worth a long drive to get to.
These great spots can be found across the state and waiting for you to give them a try.
How many have you been to?
Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka
These Are 14 Must-Visit Hidden Gem Destinations in Maine
Gallery Credit: Megan
Maine
Maine Senate advances ‘right to repair’ electronics bill
AUGUSTA, Maine (WGME) — The Maine Senate is advancing a “right to repair” electronics bill.
The legislation aims to lower repair costs and reduce electronic waste by forcing manufacturers to share parts and repair tools with the public.
The bill faces more votes in the house and senate.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Ten states have already passed electronic “right to repair” laws.
Maine
NMCC Nursing Program Ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -Northern Maine Community College’s registered nursing program has been ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025 by NursingExplorer.com, a national education resource that evaluates nursing programs based on graduate success on licensure examinations.
The NMCC program earned the recognition with a 96.60% weighted average pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses over the past three years, placing the college among the top-performing nursing programs in the state. The ranking comes as demand for qualified nurses remains strong across Maine, particularly in rural and northern communities.
“These results demonstrate the dedication of our students, faculty and clinical partners who work together to ensure graduates are prepared for the realities of today’s health care environment,” said Andrew Gagnon, RN, MSN, CCRN, NR-P, CHSE, department chair of nursing, EMS and allied health at Northern Maine Community College. “We are proud to see our program recognized for its consistent quality as we continue preparing nurses to serve communities across Aroostook County and throughout Maine.”
Maine is home to approximately 15 nursing education programs, with most concentrated in southern and central population centers such as Portland, Lewiston, Bangor and Augusta. This distribution can create access challenges for students in more rural regions, making northern training opportunities especially important for local workforce development.
“Northern Maine Community College is proud to provide nursing education that meets the highest standards while remaining accessible to students in northern Maine,” said Doug Binsfeld, Ed.D., president of Northern Maine Community College. “Our graduates make a meaningful impact in rural communities and are equally prepared to pursue opportunities in larger health care settings across the state.”
Employment prospects for nurses in Maine remain favorable, driven by an aging population and ongoing workforce shortages. Maine’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact also allows licensed nurses to practice in more than 30 participating states, expanding career mobility and professional opportunities for graduates.
According to NursingExplorer.com, rankings are based on NCLEX pass-rate data collected over a three-year period. Results are weighted by the number of test takers in each cohort, with additional emphasis placed on more recent outcomes to reflect current program performance.
Copyright 2026 WAGM. All rights reserved.
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Georgia1 week agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Science1 week agoIndustrial chemicals have reached the middle of the oceans, new study shows
-
Science1 week agoHow a Melting Glacier in Antarctica Could Affect Tens of Millions Around the Globe
-
Culture1 week agoTest Your Memory of Great Lines From Classic Irish Poems
-
Sports5 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
New Mexico3 days agoClovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured