The Boston Celtics could receive a major lineup boost when their first-round NBA playoff series against the Nets shifts to Brooklyn for Games 3 and 4.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Friday that C's center Robert Williams is "close to a return" and could even play in Saturday night's Game 3 or Monday night's Game 4.
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The Celtics lead the series 2-0 after protecting homecourt at TD Garden. Boston's defense has done a tremendous job slowing down the Nets' star-studded offense, especially Kevin Durant.
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Williams had surgery in late March to repair a torn meniscus. The Celtics announced a timetable of four to six weeks for his return. Game 3 would be 3.5 weeks since the surgery.
Celtics head coach Ime Udoka told reporters Thursday that Williams would travel with the team to Brooklyn.
Williams is one of the top five defensive players in the league and would make the Celtics an even tougher matchup for the Nets, especially in the paint with this elite shot blocking and excellent individual defense.
Note: Games 3-6 of the Brooklyn Nets-Boston Celtics series will be aired exclusively on NBC Sports Boston and can also be streamed on NBCSportsBoston.com or with the MyTeams App, which you can download below.