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Jayson Tatum on Robert Williams' Impact on the Celtics: 'We’re Just a Different Team'
Tuesday night in Sacramento, the Celtics capped their six-game road trip, in which they went 4-2, with a 132-109 win over the Kings.
The defending Eastern Conference champions saved their best performance of this taxing stretch away from home for last. Boston only committed five turnovers and played inside-outside basketball, attacking downhill and consistently creating high-quality shots.
The Celtics didn't lose focus or take their foot off the gas, and they quickly curbed any run the hosts made, including their last gasp in the final frame.
It helped to have Robert Williams back in the lineup. The Timelord returned from an eight-game absence due to a left hamstring strain.
Joe Mazzulla opted to bring him off the bench, keeping Derrick White in the starting lineup. The latter registered 20 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 37:44. He shot 54.5 percent from the field, including 5/10 from beyond the arc.
While Boston's double-big lineup needs more time together, only sharing the court in ten games for 81 minutes this season, resulting in a -12.4 net rating, per NBA.com, the Celtics have been better with two guards on the floor and continuing to bring Williams off the bench may be for the best.
In his first game back, the Timelord finished with six points, seven rebounds, and a block in 20:51. He also helped the visitors win on the margins, most notably, helping limit Sacramento to five second-chance points. Boston registered 17.
After the victory, Williams said he felt good and had no setbacks, per The Athletic's Jay King.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jayson Tatum, who led all scorers with 36 points, matching Larry Bird for the most games in franchise history with at least 30 points in a season (39), and paired that with eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals, expressed the following about Williams' return.
"Obviously, we’re a lot bigger when he’s out there," conveyed the four-time All-Star. "It just makes us much more dynamic, I felt like. His presence, even if he’s not blocking shots, maybe he’s turning people away from attacking the basket. He’s grabbing rebounds, giving us second or third opportunities. Obviously, (he's) a lob threat.
"It was just great to have the whole team out there. Obviously we didn’t have (Payton Pritchard) out there. Having the starters and having Rob back makes us — we’re just a different team."
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