Robert Williams III injury update: Will knee soreness sideline Celtics center for Game 5 vs. Bucks?

Scott Rafferty

Robert Williams III injury update: Will knee soreness sideline Celtics center for Game 5 vs. Bucks? image

The Celtics were without Robert Williams III for Game 4 of their second-round matchup with the Bucks, but they were still able to come away with the win.

Led by Jayson Tatum and Al Horford, who combined to score 60 points, the Celtics defeated the Bucks to tie the Eastern Conference Semifinals series up at 2-2 and regain home-court advantage. The series now returns to Boston for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday.

Will Williams be available to play? Here's everything we know about the center's injury.

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What is Robert Williams III's injury?

On March 30, the Celtics announced that Williams underwent a partial left knee meniscectomy and was expected to miss four to six weeks.

Williams was sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and missed the opening two games of Boston's first-round matchup with Brooklyn. He returned in Game 3, posting two points and two rebounds in 15 minutes.

After playing five straight games, the Celtics ruled Williams out of Game 4 against the Bucks in the second round with left knee soreness. Celtics head coach Ime Udoka said that Williams had a "little flare-up" that got irritated when he was trying to warm up.

Udoka added that it wasn't unexpected for Williams to have soreness after surgery and that he wasn't expected to undergo further testing.

Will Robert Williams III play in Game 5 vs. Bucks?

Just hours ahead of Game 5, Udoka told reporters that Williams would be unable to play. Although swelling in Williams' left knee went down, the soreness persisted, causing Boston to take a cautious approach.

Grant Williams started in place of Robert Williams in Game 4. He finished with nine points and four rebounds in 24 minutes.

Celtics vs. Bucks series schedule

Here is the full schedule for the second-round series between the Celtics and Bucks:

Date Game Result Time (ET)
May 1 Game 1 Bucks 101, Celtics 89
May 3 Game 2 Celtics 109, Bucks 86
May 7 Game 3 Bucks 103, Celtics 101
May 9 Game 4 Celtics 116, Bucks 108
May 11 Game 5 7 p.m.
May 13 Game 6 TBD
May 15 Game 7* TBD

*if necessary

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.