Joe Mazzulla Reacts To Grant Williams' Crucial Missed Free Throws

The fate of the game was in Grant Williams' hands tonight.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics suffered a devastating 118-114 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland erased the Celtics’ double-digit lead as the fourth quarter winded down. The Cavaliers' rally, however, was almost cut short.

With 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Grant Williams was whistled to the free-throw line and needed one point to secure a victory for Boston. The Celtics’ forward, who has an over 80 percent free-throw success rate this season, missed both of his attempts.

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.

"tell him I love him. It's part of the game."

Joe Mazzulla shares his message to Grant Williams after he missed both FT's at the end of regulation pic.twitter.com/TcOQ2fJcHs

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 7, 2023

"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. 

Further Reading

Celtics Address Losing 14-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead in Loss to the Cavaliers: 'We Just Have to Have a Fighter's Mentality'

Malcolm Brogdon Shares His Message to the Celtics After Overtime Loss to Cavaliers

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Cavaliers: Boston Pays for Second-Chance Points Surrendered and Grant Williams' Missed FTs

Should the Celtics Prioritize Rest Over Their Pursuit of the One Seed? Joe Mazzulla Weighs in

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Knicks: Is it Time for a Priority Shift?

Celtics Address a Glaring Issue They've Yet to Solve: 'We've Got to Find a Way to Play a Complete 48 Minutes'

Joe Mazzulla Shares His Perspective on the Roots of the Celtics' Collapse vs. Nets

Jayson Tatum on Load Management: 'I Just Think About the Young Kid, the Kid Inside Me from St. Louis That Dreamed About Being in the NBA'