Brutal Blow For Celtics; Lose Key Player For "Several Weeks"

After a 24-4 run to the top of the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have now been hit with a devastating injury for their playoff hopes, as center Robert Williams has been diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his knee.

ESPN Sources: Celtics C Robert Williams has suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee and will minimally miss several weeks. Further evaluation today will help provide a timetable. Boston moved into first-place Sunday, and Williams has been immense part of NBA’s best defense.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 28, 2022

According to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Williams will miss "several weeks" at minimum. The playoffs begin in less than three weeks, so the Celtics will be without their big man at least to begin the 1st round. 

The crazy thing about the injury is that he continued to play on it, and played well.

Here's what Robert Williams III was able to do AFTER he sprained his knee last night. Got 8 of his 13 points and looked pretty good overall. Hopefully that injury is nothing major, and he won't miss much time (if any). pic.twitter.com/prQxTnPRgd

— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) March 28, 2022

Williams had imaging on his knee done this morning, and it revealed the meniscus tear. 

Very bad break for the Celtics, who had gone from 11th in the conference at the start of the calendar year, to the No. 1 seed, after their 24-4 run.

Needless to say, Celtics fans everywhere are not too thrilled with this development:

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooiooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo https://t.co/8bceXc0oS3

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 28, 2022

Photo Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports