Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics walks onto the court prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden on March 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. Kathryn Riley/ Getty Images/AFP
The Boston Celtics fear that center Robert Williams III has a torn meniscus and could be out indefinitely, ESPN and The Athletic reported Monday.
The Celtics have just seven games remaining in the regular season, meaning a potential return for Williams would not come until well into the playoffs, if at all. Further evaluation is expected to render a timeline for Williams’ return, per the reports.
The Celtics are tied with the Miami Heat for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Williams, 24, suffered the injury Sunday at the end of the third quarter of the Celtics’ win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He limped off the court and did not return. The team called it a left knee sprain. Williams had 13 points and 10 rebounds before departing.
Williams has been a revelation this season for the Celtics. He has played in a career-high 61 games and started all of them. He is averaging 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, all career highs.
Williams has career averages of 7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 174 games (77 starts) for the Celtics, who selected him No. 27 overall in the 2018 draft.