BOSTON — He has not played a game since Dec. 6, making a 13-minute appearance against the Denver Nuggets 11 weeks ago.
Celtics center Robert Williams has been dealing with a left hip bone edema, taking time off, then doing rehabilitation work while missing 33 games.
Finally, it appears that the second-year player from Texas A&M is close to a return to the active roster.
When the Celtics reconvened Wednesday night at the Auerbach Center for their first [...]
BOSTON — He has not played a game since Dec. 6, making a 13-minute appearance against the Denver Nuggets 11 weeks ago.
Celtics center Robert Williams has been dealing with a left hip bone edema, taking time off, then doing rehabilitation work while missing 33 games.
Finally, it appears that the second-year player from Texas A&M is close to a return to the active roster.
When the Celtics reconvened Wednesday night at the Auerbach Center for their first practice after the NBA All-Star break, Williams was a full participant and drew rave reviews.
While he will not be playing on a four-game road trip that starts Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it looks as if Williams might be available to go on Feb. 29 when the team returns home to face the Houston Rockets.
"Rob did a pretty good job today,’’ said coach Brad Stevens, whose team had not been together since last Thursday’s double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers. "He looked like he felt good. He looked like he felt anxious.
"The situation on Rob will be he’ll practice and work out through the rest of the next week or so and go back for a final scan to make sure he hasn’t had any negative response to this extra load.
"From that point on, he’ll either be cleared or he won’t, depending on how his body reacts to the last six weeks and really ramping it up this week.’’
Williams played 19 games with one start before getting injured, averaging 14 minutes, 3.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots.
The Celtics needed all the help they could get at center after Al Horford and Aron Baynes departed last summer, and it has been left to Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter, with power forward Grant Williams getting some minutes in the middle.
Williams, an active defender, was getting his chance in the rotation, but was sidetracked by the injury that has cost him nearly half the season.
"I’m getting anxious just knowing I’m a couple of games away,’’ Williams said. "First game back, I think, is a home game, so it’s very special to me.
"I feel great, ready to play. It’s kind of weird having a night practice like this, but it was good getting out there with the guys and being able to compete in the whole practice.’’
Teammate Jaylen Brown, who went through the entire practice after dealing with two sprained ankles and a calf contusion prior to the break, said he was impressed with the way Williams played in the workout.
"He looked good today, a lot of high energy,’’ said Brown, who spent the break in Cuba and the Bahamas. "He was making some ridiculous plays. The important thing is to keep him healthy, keep him consistent in these last 20-something games and add him to that rotation. We definitely miss him out there.’’
Williams had to go slow through his recovery process, increasing his activity in small intervals while getting scans to check on how the hip was responding.
He has been able to be more aggressive in workouts this month, and the full practice was another step forward.
"It’s great because they let me free now,’’ Williams said. "There’s no limitations on anything I’m doing. I want to windmill every time I dunk. I’ve still got to play it cautiously.’’
Walker rests knee
Stevens said that the only player who was limited at the first practice back was Kemba Walker, who took part in Sunday night’s All-Star Game. Walker has been dealing with a sore knee in recent weeks but reportedly will be ready to go in Minnesota. … The Celtics play against the Lakers Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles and will stay there overnight so that some players can attend the memorial service for Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, Monday at the Staples Center. Stevens said the Celtics have limited tickets for the service. ... The other stops on the trip are Portland and Utah. ... Two-way players Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters took part in the practice session.
jfenton@enterprisenews.com.
Twitter: @JFenton_ent