C's center Robert Williams (ankle) doubtful for Game 4 vs. Nets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Kemba Walker and Robert Williams will both miss Game 4 of the Celtics' first-round NBA playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, the team announced before the game.
Head coach Brad Stevens had left the door for both slightly ajar earlier in the afternoon, noting that a final call would be made during pregame warmups, but the pair jwere ultimately scratched about an hour before tip-off.
Walker is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee, and was expected to sit out after the team saw him through a morning workout, as first reported by SNY's Ian Begley and later confirmed by the team. He had been listed as questionable in Saturday's injury report.
Third-year center Robert Williams is also battling an injury, which placed him as doubtful in Saturday's report. He suffered an ankle sprain in Friday night's Game 3 win, forcing him to wear a walking boot.
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Here is Boston's official injury report released Saturday afternoon:
Walker played through his injury during the Celtics' Game 3 win, but he was largely ineffective. The 31-year-old point guard finished with six points on 3-of-14 shooting (0-for-7 from 3).
Williams was excellent for Boston in Game 1 when he nearly posted a triple double with 11 points, nine rebounds and a C's single game playoff record nine blocks.
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He played 23 minutes in that series-opening loss, and then played 17 minutes in a Game 2 defeat before getting only six minutes in Game 3 before leaving because of the ankle sprain.
If Williams is unable to play in Game 4, the Celtics will need another strong performance from starting center Tristan Thompson. The veteran big man scored 19 points with 13 rebounds in the Game 3 victory.
