Celtics

Robert Williams ‘day-to-day’ after missing Celtics-Heat Game 3

Williams has missed five of the last seven games due to a bone bruise on his left knee.

Robert Williams won't play in Saturday's Game 3. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

updated on May 22, 2022

Celtics starting center Robert Williams is “day-to-day” after missing the Game 3 loss to the Heat on Saturday due to left knee soreness, according to Boston coach Ime Udoka.

After missing nearly four weeks due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, Williams suffered a bone bruise on his left knee in Game 3 of the Celtics’ series against the Bucks in a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo. That injury has forced Williams to miss five of the Celtics’ last seven games. While the injury has kept Williams off the floor over the last couple of weeks, Udoka believes his center could play in Game 4.

Williams made his initial return to the lineup in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals even though he was made available in Game 7 against the Bucks. Through the first two games of the series, Williams averaged 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per game.

The Celtics actually had a winning record in games Williams didn’t play since he suffered his meniscus injury in late March. They went 6-3 without Williams in the three-plus weeks he missed following the surgery and went 3-1 without him in the series against the Bucks.

Even though Grant Williams started in Robert Williams’s spot when the latter missed time in the series against the Bucks, the Celtics turned to Daniel Theis to start in Game 3. Theis didn’t fare too well, scoring just one point, and was a -13 over 11 minutes in the 109-103 loss.