The Boston Celtics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-114 in overtime, which was devastating. As the fourth quarter came to a close, Cleveland eliminated the Celtics’ double-digit lead. Still, the Cavaliers’ comeback was all but destroyed.
Granted a whistle to the free-throw line with 0.8 seconds left in regulation, Grant Williams needed one point to give Boston the game. The Celtics forward, whose success record from free throws this season is over 80%, missed both of his tries.
The crucial misses come nearly a week after Wiliams was issued a DNP-CD, his first since May of 2021. Coincidentally, that game was also against the Cavaliers.
Joe Mazzulla had a simple message for the 24-year-old.
“Just tell him I love him,” expressed Mazzulla. “It’s part of the game. He didn’t miss them on purpose, just got to be able to move on from it.”
The Celtics’ head coach then praised Williams for his value to the team.
“Grant, the way he is, he’ll bounce back. I have full faith in him,” said Mazzulla. “We’re going to need him to win. We’re going to need him to be a great team.”
The Celtics head into their Wednesday night matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-game losing streak.
“Just tell him that I love him,” Mazzulla said. It is a feature of the game. He simply needed to be able to move on from it; he didn’t miss them on intentionally.”
The head coach of the Celtics then commended Williams for his contribution to the group.
“Grant will recover because of who he is. “I fully trust him,” Mazzulla remarked. “We’re going to require his victory. He will need to be an excellent team player for us.
The Celtics are on a three-game losing streak going into their Wednesday night game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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