Grant Williams got a face full of Joel Embiid during Friday’s Game 3 of the semifinal playoff series.
The Celtics forward was quickly sent to the sidelines in the fourth quarter to check his face after the 76ers big man and 2023 NBA MVP accidentally stepped on Williams’ head and slammed his face into the hardwood.
“I was like, ‘Dang, I really got kicked to the curb,'” Williams told reporters of seeing the video after the Celtics’ 114-102 victory.
The collision occurred in an attempt to grab a loose ball.
Both Williams and his teammate Jaylen Brown dove to the ground for the ball Embiid stepped on Williams’ head as he tried to jump over both players.
Willams sat up, grabbed his face, and fell backward in pain. Embiid fell backwards to the ground.
After the trainer looked at Williams, he finally came back to the track where he was shared a moment with Embiidwho said “My mistake” and apologized for the incident.
Williams held no grudge after the situation as you can see him tapping Embiid on the back to reassure him that he wasn’t taking offense.
“It happens, man,” Williams told reporters afterwards. “He fell back and I’m just thankful he didn’t lean on it completely because he sure hit me pretty bad, but I think he felt like he landed on something so he picked up his foot.”
Williams and the Celtics lead the series 2-1 after Friday night, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Embiid finished Game 3 with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Williams posted four rebounds and one assist.
