The Celtics were clinging to a six-point lead midway through the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals when Grant Williams notched a key three-pointer to give Boston a 96–87 advantage.
Playing with a sense of confidence, Williams decided to get in the face of Jimmy Butler as the two trotted down the court. However, the tense moment unlocked the “Playoff Jimmy” version of Butler’s game as the Heat outscored the Celtics 24–9 in the final 6:37 of the game to steal the victory.
When Williams was asked about his exchange with Butler after the Celtics’ loss, he simply stated that the two were competing, and that Butler “made some tough shots.”
“I think he said something and I just responded,” Williams said, per NBC Sports Boston. “I’m a competitor. I’m going to battle. He got the best of me tonight. At the end of the day, it is out of respect because I am not going to run away from it. My mom always taught me, my dad as well, you get you’re a-- kicked, you don’t come back home until you come to battle again.”
"I respect him as a motherf**** player"
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 20, 2023
Grant Williams gives the truth about his beef with Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/fmSOgcnsY8
And although he was bested in Game 2, Williams said he has no plans of backing down from the 33-year-old.
“Sure, you did ‘poke the bear,’ and how you’re going to respond … He made some tough shots,” Williams said. “It’s a battle. I’m going to keep battling. He’s gonna have to make every single tough shot the rest of the series because I’m not gonna turn and look otherwise. … I respect him as a motherf------ player.”
Butler finished the game with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Game 2 after notching 35 points, seven assists and five rebounds in Miami’s Game 1 win. After a second straight stellar performance in the midst of a postseason full of them, Butler said that the exchange with Williams fueled him as he sparked the Heat’s comeback victory.
“It makes me key in a lot more and it pushes that will that I have to win a lot more,” Butler said on the Williams exchange. “It makes me smile... I do respect him [Williams]... I just don’t know if I'm the best person to talk to.”
Williams and the Celtics will need much more than talk if they hope to make a Finals appearance, with Butler and the Heat headed back to South Florida with a 2–0 series lead.
