Inside The Celtics

The Latest on Robert Williams' Status for Tuesday's Celtics-Thunder Game

The Celtics have recently started pairing Robert Williams with Al Horford again. That combination helps them adhere to an identity that starts on defense.

Bobby Krivitsky

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As the Celtics look to bounce back after a 123-111 loss to the Nuggets that snapped their four-game winning streak, Boston will have to do so without a member of its core.

The Celtics ruled Robert Williams out for Tuesday's matchup against the Thunder due to left knee injury management. Williams has played in seven games since making his season debut on Dec. 16.

Tuesday's tilt is the second game he won't suit up for since returning. His first absence was due to a non-Covid illness that kept him out when Boston hosted the Timberwolves.

The Timelord is averaging 8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a block per contest in 18.9 minutes of floor time.

As he builds stamina, the Celtics have experimented with playing him for longer stretches and pairing him with Al Horford again. It's a combination that helped Boston evolve into the top-ranked defense in the NBA last season.

While those two make a significant impact at both ends of the court, an identity that starts with what the Celtics do defensively is a more reliable path to raising banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters than trying to shoot their way to a championship.

As for the hosts, the Thunder are without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who went through morning shootaround on Tuesday but is inactive due to a non-Covid illness.

Oklahoma City is already without Aleksej Pokuševski, who has a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in his left leg and will get reevaluated in six-to-eight weeks.

Further Reading

There may not be a Better Time to Buy Jayson Tatum's MVP Odds Than Right Now

This Stat Shows Just How Impressive the Celtics' Red-Hot Start to Season Has Been

Here are Three Prop Bets to Consider Ahead of Tuesday's Celtics-Thunder Showdown

Teams Showing Interest in Celtics Guard Payton Pritchard (Report)

The Top 5 Plays from Sunday's Celtics-Nuggets Game

Here's What Stood Out in the Celtics' Loss vs. the Nuggets: Jokic's Triple-Double, Denver's Hot Shooting Snap Boston's Four-Game Win Streak

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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