Boston Celtics center Robert Williams is “expected” to be out for the decisive Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals series against the Miami Heat due to his left knee injury, as noted by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Williams’ playoff run with the Celtics has been marred by the left knee injury that he sustained in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Scans on his knee showed no structural damage, but the Celtics have remained conservative with their handling of the versatile center’s ailment.

The Celtics would go on to sideline Williams for the remaining four games of the series win over the Bucks, but they provided the fourth-year center with the green light to play in the opener against the Heat. He rose to the occasion in the contest, scoring 18 points to go along with nine rebounds recorded.

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka featured Williams for a mere 19 minutes in Game 2, as he opted for a small-ball lineup to lead the way in the 25-point win.

The Celtics are slated to call upon Al Horford and Grant Williams to help replace the center’s keen defensive impact in the painted area. They succeeded in doing just that in Game 2, as the Celtics held Miami to a mere 30 points scored in the paint.

Boston aims to open up a 2-1 series advantage in this pivotal Game 3 showdown with the Heat.