Celtics’ Grant Williams bloodied as head by accident stepped on by Joel Embiid: ‘I actually bought curb stomped’

Boston Celtics ahead Grant Williams had his head smashed into the courtroom throughout the fourth quarter of Boston’s 114-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night time. 

While scrambling for a free ball, Williams and Jaylen Brown wound up on the ground, which triggered 2023 MVP Joel Embiid to leap over the 2 gamers. 

Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, entrance left, and Grant Williams, entrance proper, react after colliding throughout the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff sequence, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Philadelphia.  (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Unfortunately for Williams, Embiid didn’t clear the 2, and his foot stepped on the again of Williams’ head, inflicting his face to smash into the ground. 

“I used to be like, ’Dang, I actually bought curb-stomped,'” Williams mentioned after the sport. “I’m simply grateful he didn’t like absolutely simply lean his weight onto it. He positively bought me fairly badly. But then I feel he felt that he landed on one thing, so he picked his foot up. It hurts a little bit bit.”

Embiid apologized to Williams after he re-entered the sport. 

Jayson Tatum, #0 of the Boston Celtics, reacts towards the Philadelphia 76ers throughout the third quarter in sport three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

“That was sort of nasty,” Celtics guard Jayson Tatum mentioned.

The Celtics pulled away late in Game 3, getting well timed buckets from Tatum and heart Al Horford. 

Tatum led Boston in scoring with 27 factors, together with seven factors within the last 2:40 of the fourth quarter. 

James Harden struggled mightily for the 76ers and is now 5-28 from the sphere within the final two video games after scoring 45 factors in Philadelphia’s Game 1 win. 

Grant Williams, #12 of the Boston Celtics, celebrates throughout the third quarter of sport two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs towards the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on May 3, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 121-87.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

“We’re simply making an attempt to make him work as a lot as we will,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “Trying to maintain him off the free-throw line. Guys are simply working to remove these particulars.”

Game 4 will tip off on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.