The Latest on the Health Front for the Celtics and Knicks Ahead of Sunday's Matchup, Including an Update on Robert Williams

As the Celtics try to bounce back from Friday's 115-105 loss to the Nets, a game where Brooklyn came into TD Garden and completed the most sizable comeback in the NBA this season, erasing a 28-point deficit, Boston's attempt to get back into the win column will take place without a core member of the team and its sixth man.

After exiting the third quarter of Friday's tilt with left hamstring soreness, Robert Williams is out for Sunday's matchup.

Robert Williams is out for the remainder of the game with left hamstring tightness pic.twitter.com/UcWp1swEam
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 4, 2023

Pregame, Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla said he got told the Timelord could miss 7-10 days, but there's a fluidity to the situation that could change that timeframe.

Along with missing his two-way impact, not having Williams is a significant blow to the starting lineup of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Williams trying to build continuity and get back to playing at the level they did through last year's run to the NBA Finals.

The starting five have shared the court for only ten games this season, logging 81 minutes together. In a testament to their need to knock the rust off, that unit has a 106.7 offensive rating, they're allowing 119 points per 100 possessions, and they have a -12.4 net rating, per NBA.com.

Boston also won't have Malcolm Brogdon, dealing with right ankle soreness, for Sunday's game against New York. It's his second-straight absence.

#NEBHInjuryReport Malcolm Brogdon right ankle soreness) - OUT https://t.co/RG10ZgMUGE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 5, 2023

As for the Knicks, the visitors are without starting point guard Jalen Brunson due to a sore left foot. Pregame, Tom Thibodeau conveyed that it was bothering Brunson when he woke up Sunday. New York's floor general will get re-evaluated tomorrow, but coach Thibodeau doesn't believe it's "anything serious."

Sunday's Celtics-Knicks game tips off at 7:30 pm EST; Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Celtics Address a Glaring Issue They've Yet to Solve: 'We've Got to Find a Way to Play a Complete 48 Minutes'

Joe Mazzulla Shares His Perspective on the Roots of the Celtics' Collapse vs. Nets

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Nets: Boston Backslides at a Time It Needs to Tighten Up

Jayson Tatum on Load Management: 'I Just Think About the Young Kid, the Kid Inside Me from St. Louis That Dreamed About Being in the NBA'

A Top Celtics Free-Agent Target Signs Elsewhere, Where Does Boston Go from Here?

Jayson Tatum Unveils Jordan Tatum 1's

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