Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gave an injury update on big man Robert Williams III Sunday evening. The coach said the team’s medical staff believes Williams will be sidelined for a week or more with a strained hamstring. Williams left Boston’s game Friday evening after apparently suffering a hamstring injury.
He did not return to action and will now be out a little bit longer as he rehabs the strain. Mazzulla told reporters his staff believes Williams will be out between seven and ten games. Mazzulla added “those things can change depending on how quickly he can get back to sprinting.” Williams is a critical part of a Celtics defense that is still finding its footing. He’s averaging 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Williams also provides an important element to Boston’s defense, offering verticality and a threat around the rim for a team that otherwise likes to shoot from distance.
Celtics Lab 173: On whether rest, seeding, or meshing matters most for the Celtics’ stretch run with Evan Valenti https://t.co/8eEFMnkxbL
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 3, 2023
Williams, 25, began the season recovering from a knee procedure. The big man has had on-going health concerns throughout his career but had increasingly looked like his former self in recent weeks for the Celtics. Mazzulla suggested this was just a minor set back.
“He’s done a great job this year getting to a point where he’s healthy, he’s on the floor, and he’s working through stuff,” Mazzulla said. “I trust him to be able to do that with this as well.”
Boston is 27-9 this season without Williams. The Celtics have a few tough games ahead before embarking on a six-game road trip.
Just ahead of Collin Sexton, and just before Gary Trent, Jr., this number might seem a bit low given what Timelord can do when healthy. https://t.co/gcaJlUO8Dk
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 5, 2023
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