Robert Williams and Grant Williams Provide Injury Updates a Day After Celtics' Game 3 Win vs. Sixers

With 8:35 left in Game 3, Robert Williams raced for a long rebound that caromed off the rim and toward the Celtics' bench. He managed to get to the ball just in time to sling it up top, where Jayson Tatum elevated to snag the rock in traffic, extending the possession.

But Williams paid the price for his hustle, taking a hard fall that resulted in a right forearm contusion.

Robert Williams heads to locker room. Seemed to grab at his right arm after the hustle play. pic.twitter.com/NTCJnxGH8h
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) May 6, 2023

"I was looking for my teammates to catch me when I was saving the ball," the former Texas A&M Aggie said lightheartedly via CLNS Media a day after Boston's 114-102 win, taking a 2-1 series lead and regaining home-court advantage. "But (I) just fell, though."

Fortunately, after getting tended to on the bench, then heading to the locker room, Williams rejoined his teammates, with the Celtics declaring him available to return.

Given how effectively the defending Eastern Conference champions were executing coverages as Joe Mazzulla spun the dial to slow Joel Embiid, who registered only four points in the final frame, and scoring at the other end, with Jayson Tatum leading the way, putting ten points on the board in the last 12 minutes, the visitors were comfortable keeping the Time Lord out.

🧈 pic.twitter.com/6nZ4BCarCI
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 6, 2023

Post-game, Mazzulla said he shook hands with Williams following the win, and to him, the latter seemed.

After Saturday's practice, more of a walkthrough to stay sharp mentally, with a sleeve on his right arm, as captured by Boston Sports Journal's John Karalis, the Shreveport, Louisiana native discussed the physical nature of this series, which went from one of the loudest, most hostile environments in the NBA to another as this best of seven shifted from Boston to Philadelphia.

"We know what we’re coming into," expressed Williams. "The crowd was crazy. We could barely hear each other last night. But the same fight, man. We expect to leave out the game with more scars than yesterday."

Grant Williams came out of Game 3 with one of those battle scars and is fortunate it wasn't far worse.

The former Tennessee Volunteer collided with Jaylen Brown while trying to force a fourth-quarter steal against Embiid. The two teammates going to the ground resulted in the latter jumping to get out of the way.

Unfortunately, the seven-foot, 280-pound center landed on Williams' head. Thankfully, while it left him bloodied, he returned to the game a minute later.

Joel Embiid: "My bad. I landed on your head?"

Grant Williams: "Hey, it's the playoffs brother."

Joel: "Y'all fell. I tried to fall."

GW: "I knew you were going for the ball."

Joel: "I tried to jump over."

GW: "It's what we battle for, bro."pic.twitter.com/CZ2tT66p88 https://t.co/M4iiruFHU3
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 6, 2023

"I saw Grant get his head stepped on by a 300-pound individual — and to see that live, (it) was crazy," said Brown. Seeing that in real time was probably the craziest thing that I’ve seen on a basketball court."

Williams, whose nose is swollen, provided an update after Saturday's practice, saying he had to get stitches but that he's ok.

It's been a trying year for the fourth-year pro, often getting left out of the rotation in a contract year before becoming a restricted free agent this summer.

Capitalizing on his opportunities in the last two matchups, working to slow down Embiid, knocking down 4/8 threes in Game 2, and making hustle plays to help keep the Sixers off the glass on Friday, has to feel especially good.

"Grant has been great," stated Brown. "Grant has been humble all year long. It's been tough for him. He's a tremendous part of our team, and we've challenged him in different ways. And his maturity level, the ability to play his role, the ability to raise his level and get stops and do what is needed to be done, regardless of sometimes, his emotions and his feelings and how he feels about certain situations, man, you can't ask for nothing better than that."

"It's a testament to his character and him being a professional," conveyed Tatum after Friday's win.

"Staying ready. On off days, Grant is in there playing 5-on-5 with the low-minute guys and not necessarily knowing when he’s going to play, but just being ready. And we talk to him all the time (about) just keeping your head (up), we’re going to need you at some point, you’re going to play a part. And tonight showed that."

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Sheds Light on Keys to Celtics' Defense Stifling Sixers in Game 3 Win

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Sixers: Boston Shows Its Championship-Mettle, Takes 2-1 Series Lead

Joe Mazzulla Shares His Perspective on Balancing What's Working with Need for Adjustments

Celtics Head to Philadelphia Intent on Proving Themselves: 'It Doesn't Mean Anything if There's No Carryover'

Celtics Praise Jaylen Brown for Setting Tone in Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: 'It's as Good of a Game as I've Ever Seen Him Play'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: Renewed Defensive Commitment, Three-Point Barrage Even the Series

Film Room: Recalibrating Celtics' Defense for Game 2 Against Sixers

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Game Mismanagement Leading to Losing on the Margins and a Series-Opening Defeat to Sixers

Celtics Address Letting Guard Down in Game 1 Loss to Sixers Team Missing Joel Embiid

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss vs. Sixers: The Perplexing Defeats Have Become More Predictable