Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Robert Williams suffered a bone bruise in his left knee while colliding with Antetokounmpo in Game 3.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Boston forward/center Robert Williams III missed his third straight game with an injured left knee as the Celtics kept their season alive Friday night with a 108-95 victory in Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Williams had been listed as questionable on the Celtics’ injury report. Celtics coach Ume Idoka said at the team’s post-shootaround availability Friday that Williams hurt the knee during a collision with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3.
“Once the swelling went down, we found out he had a bone bruise,” Udoka said Friday before the game. “There’s a high pain threshold there. It limits his movement when he bends a certain way.”
Udoka said he didn’t believe this was a long-term issue.
Ime Udoka on Robert Williams: "The pain is still there and we're not going to put him out there until he's 100%" pic.twitter.com/XJSVrnJ8m9
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 13, 2022
The Celtics and Bucks are now tied 3-3 in the Eastern Conference semifinal, with the winner set to face the Miami Heat.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton missed his ninth consecutive game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t offer any indication on whether the three-time All-Star might be available the next time Milwaukee plays after Friday.
“He’s doing well,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. “He’s making progress. We’re optimistic, but no new update.”
Referee Scott Foster was scratched from his assignment because of an illness not related to COVID-19. Eric Lewis and Ben Taylor, the other two scheduled officials, worked with Tre Maddox, with Nick Buchert the alternate.
