No. 8 seed Miami defeated No. 2 Boston, 123-116, Wednesday in game No. 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Former Vol Grant Williams did not play due to a coaches decision. Williams has appeared in nine games during the NBA playoffs.
He is averaging 12.9 minutes, 1.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.3 steals per game.
Williams played for Tennessee from 2016-19, turning professional after his junior season as a two-time SEC Player of the Year.
He was drafted by the Celtics in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft, and was the No. 22 overall selection.
Game No. 2 of the best-of-7 series is slated for Friday at 8:30 p.m. EDT (TNT).