Amari Williams Stepped Off A Plane, Into Barclays Center, And Was Huge In Boston's Win In Brooklyn

Amari Williams played 5 minutes for nan Celtics Friday nighttime successful Brooklyn. He made 1 shot, 1 free throw, had 1 assist, and 1 block. 

He was huge.

“For Amari to beryllium capable to beryllium location nan full game, beryllium fresh and execute immoderate of nan plays that we've gone complete successful practice, it's a in installments to him and nan coaching staff,” Joe Mazzulla told reporters aft nan double-overtime win successful Brooklyn. 

Williams packed a batch into his 5 minutes. The funny point is he thought he’d beryllium playing person to 30 connected Friday night. 

“I flew successful 2 hours earlier [the game] from Maine,” Williams said. “I did nan sprout astir this morning, thought I was going to play location tonight. [Neemias Queta] wasn't emotion great, truthful I flew successful today.”

Queta played, but fouled retired successful nan 4th quarter. Luka Garza besides played, but he fouled retired successful overtime. After a little dalliance pinch going small, Joe Mazzulla subbed Williams in, for nan first time, pinch 8 seconds to spell successful nan game. His intent was simple. Be large, drawback a Hail Mary pass, and quickly get it complete to a shooter to effort to people quickly without burning Boston’s past timeout. 

“We telephone it touchdown,” Payton Pritchard said. “Amari made a bully catch. It's benignant of for illustration a receiver route, and he threw it to me, pump fake, and elemental arsenic that.”

Sam Hauser made nan throw, which Williams said was “on nan dot,” and Pritchard was calling for it earlier nan drawback moreover happened, truthful Williams knew wherever to spell pinch it. The play group up nan Hugo Gonzalez miracle, which meant Williams’ nighttime was only conscionable getting started.

With nan crippled tied astatine 120 successful nan 2nd overtime, Williams publication Pritchard’s thrust perfectly, relocated on nan baseline to springiness him an outlet, and vanished a walk for an and-one and a three-point play. That meant nan Nets still trailed aft Michael Porter, Jr.’s dunk. In fact, they trailed nan remainder of nan way, which Williams made judge of pinch a monster rejection pinch astir 40 seconds left. 

“It shows his character,” Pritchard said. “Sitting connected nan chair for for illustration 2 hours, and past travel successful and cheque in? That's large time. So I deliberation it's a civilization thing.”

If thing else, nan Celtics bent their hats connected 2 things: Guys are ever fresh to play, and they ever play hard. 

“I mean, this team, we had nary choice,” Brown said. “It was not negotiable really difficult we needed to play. I deliberation Joe made that for illustration a pivotal point from nan commencement of nan season. And you commencement to announcement being an NBA for a agelong time, playing difficult is for illustration 70% of nan battle.”

Williams knew if he stayed focused and played hard, immoderate minutes he sewage had nan chance to activity out. The Celtics besides tally nan aforesaid strategy successful Boston and successful Maine, truthful while location is an evident talent disparity, nan connection and nan execution is nan aforesaid nary matter which of nan 2 Celtics jerseys he’s wearing. 

When nan last buzzer sounded, Williams was swarmed by teammates. They knew what he’d done was special, moreover though games for illustration this are destined to beryllium erased from astir fans’ memories complete time. Williams hopes they are replaced by bigger, much meaningful memories astatine immoderate point. But for now, these will do conscionable fine. 

“It was great,” Williams said of nan postgame moment. “They ever support maine pinch whatever's happening. And a batch of them ever show maine to enactment fresh and thief maine beryllium conscionable mentally and physically ready, particularly going against them successful believe and stuff. So having those guys connected my backmost intends a batch to me.”