Celtics’ Grant Williams says he won’t back down from a personal fight with Heat’s Jimmy Butler after Miami win 2-0 in Eastern Conference Finals playoff series: ”I respect him like a motherf**** **-player’
Grant Williams has revealed he has no intention of backing down from Jimmy Butler after both players clashed in the Miami Heat’s Game 2 victory over the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics held on to a six-point lead with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game at TD Garden when Williams made a key three-pointer to give Boston a 96-87 lead.
Playing with a chip on his shoulder, Williams began to face Butler as the two players headed back to the Heat’s half-court. But little did the Celtics forward know the bust-up would lead to unlocking the ‘Playoff Jimmy’ version of Butler’s game, as the Heat stepped it up and beat Boston 24-9 in the final 6:37 of the game.
Miami now goes home again with a 2-0 lead in the series.
In his post-match comments, Williams was asked about his beef with Butler and the 24-year-old answered simply by saying that he and his rival are competitors and that the Heat’s number 22 has “hit some tough shots.”
Jimmy Butler exchanged words with Grant Williams in Heat’s Game 2 victory over the Celtics
“I think he said something and I just reacted,” Williams told NBC Sports Boston after his nine-point display. ‘I am a competitor. I’m going to battle. He got the best of me tonight. Ultimately, it’s out of respect, because I’m not going to run away from it.
“My mother always taught me, my father too, you get kicked, you don’t come back home until you go back to battle.
The 22nd overall pick of the 2019 draft added that Butler, 33, will not back down over the course of the next two games of the series in Miami, warning his rival that he only intends to finish his A game. when they meet again on Sunday.
Butler recorded 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists against Williams and Co. on Friday
“Sure, you stung the bear” and how you’re going to react. […] He made some tough shots,” Williams said. ‘It’s a battle. I keep fighting. He’s going to have to hit every hard shot for the rest of the series because I’m not going to turn around and look different.
“I respect him as a motherf****** player.”
Butler finished Game 2 with a 27-point performance, in addition to eight rebounds and six assists after recording 35 points, seven assists and five rebounds in Miami’s Game 1 win.
After another sensational showing in a postseason full of surprises, Butler said his split with Williams pumped him up as he led the Heat’s fourth-quarter comeback to seal the win.
“It makes me bring in a lot more and it stimulates those who want me to win a lot more,” Butler said during his conversation with Williams. “It makes me laugh… I respect him [Williams]… I just don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to.’