The Boston Celtics are all too familiar with the wait for Robert Williams III to adjust to his new role with the Portland Trail Blazers, but the patience paid off during Tuesday night’s Emirates NBA Cup matchup.
Coming off the bench for 25 minutes, Williams seized the opportunity, scoring 19 points on a stellar 9-for-10 shooting performance, adding nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks — all team highs. His performance wasn’t just one of his best in seven NBA seasons, it also placed him in rare, historic company. Williams became just the second player ever to score at least 15 points with three steals and three blocks while shooting 90% from the field off the bench, a feat first accomplished by Hall of Famer James Worthy in 1983, according to Basketball Reference’s Stathead.
More importantly, Williams’ standout performance helped propel the Trail Blazers to a 122-108 upset win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I just feel like I brought a good energy out there tonight,” Williams said after the game. “I try to start the game with energy, and I feel like a couple of us brought it and all of us matched it — coaches and players.”
Williams added: “I hear the oohs and the ahhs.” His pick-and-roll play, rim protection, and overall energy quickly grabbed the crowd’s attention, reminding fans of his time with the Celtics. However, Williams’ journey back to the floor wasn’t easy. After being traded to Portland last offseason as part of the Jrue Holiday three-team deal with Malcolm Brogdon, Williams suffered a patellar dislocation just six games into his Blazers debut, which required season-ending surgery. The setback extended a history of injury issues that had made Celtics president Brad Stevens cautious about relying on Williams for a full 82-game season.
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