Amari Williams saves Boston Celtics in overtime road win
The Boston Celtics did not have high expectations entering this season. Jayson Tatum was recovering from an Achilles injury and new ownership shed some salaries in trades to get under the second apron of the NBA’s salary cap structure. This team wasn’t expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season, but that is exactly what the C’s are doing. Jaylen Brown has been spectacular but everyone around him is also overachieving. Friday was time for Amari Williams to shine.
The rookie big who spent last season at Kentucky after starting his career at Drexel was with Boston’s G League team on Friday morning before being called up to be available on the Celtics bench. In a crazy game with the Brooklyn Nets, Williams subbed if for the first time during overtime due to centers Neemias Queta and Luka Garza both fouling out. The rookie then helped Boston win the game with an assist that kept Boston alive in the first overtime, an and-one bucket in the second overtime, and a game-sealing block way above the basket. The second round pick had his first big moment in the pros at Barclays Center.
To reward him for his clutch performance, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gave Amari Williams the start in Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls as part of a road back-to-back for the Celtics. This one was also a game that came down to the wire with Chicago’s Kevin Huerter drilling a corner three with less than a second left to give the Bulls a 114-111 victory on the night the organization retired Derrick Rose’s jersey at the United Center. In New England, this weekend could be remembered for what Williams did to allow Boston to steal a road win.
Amari Williams made numerous key plays for the Celtics in his first big NBA moment.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard