Playing through pain, Celtics center Robert Williams erases Warriors’ chances in Game 3

BOSTON – Celtics center Robert Williams briefly let slip what he’d been trying to avoid admitting: He’s taking a “risk.”

Williams rushed back from knee surgery underwent in late March. Even after returning during Boston’s first-round win over the Nets, he has missed five playoff games. For weeks, the Celtics have known his problems wouldn’t dissipate this season. Every game is an exercise in body preparation and pain management.

But the scarier thought Williams refuses to discuss: Playing through this injury could affect the rest of his career.

Yet, Boston is in the NBA Finals. If preserving his health, wouldn’t it be for moments like this?

Williams acknowledges the pain: “It’s been rough.” But…

“It’s worth it, for sure,” Williams said.

Certainly on a night like tonight.

In the Celtics’ Game 3 win Wednesday, Williams led Boston with four blocks, three steals and seven defensive rebounds – sterling numbers that only begin to show how much he stymied the Warriors. He was a game-high +21 despite playing just 26 minutes.

The Celtics’ defensive rating with:

That’s especially impressive because Williams played more than two-thirds of his minutes with Golden State star Stephen Curry on the floor. (Boston’s defensive rating with Williams and Curry on: 84.8.)

“He can kind of come out of nowhere,” said Curry, who had two passes stolen* and a shot blocked by Williams.

*Williams’ third steal also came on a Curry pass, but that was after the ball bounced off Draymond Green‘s legs. Though Williams showed range in scooping up the loose ball, that wasn’t really Williams imposing his will on Curry.

Curry brought up the block. He drove by Grant Williams, but had his floater rejected by Robert Williams:

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