Celtics center Robert Williams III averaged 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game this season.
The Boston Celtics weren’t anticipating having center Robert Williams III back in the mix for the first round, but it appears that will be the case.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Williams will play in Saturday’s Game 3 vs. Brooklyn (7:30 ET, ESPN) barring a setback in his recovery. Williams has been out of the lineup since March 30, when the team announced he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Boston Celtics center Robert Williams is close to a return and could play in Game 3 (Saturday) or Game 4 (Monday) vs. Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Final determination will be made on how Williams feels day-to-day after suffering torn meniscus on March 27.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 22, 2022
Williams played pain-free 5-on-5 in consecutive practices and will make his return from meniscus surgery on March 30.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 22, 2022
Williams suffered his injury on March 27, when he had 13 points and 10 rebounds in Boston’s 134-112 home win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He limped off the court at the end of the third quarter, did not return to that game and has been out ever since.
The 24-year-old Williams is enjoying a career-best season, averaging personal bests in points (9.9), rebounds (9.6), minutes (29.7) and blocks (2.2) per game.
Overall this season, the Celtics were 11-10 without Williams in the lineup but are off to a 2-0 start in the playoffs behind solid play in the middle from Al Horford, Daniel Theis and Grant Williams.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.