A 23-year-old Celtics role player exploded in Game 7 and set a 3-pointer record to help eliminate the Bucks

• Celtics forward Grant Williams hit 7 of 18 three-pointers and scored 27 points in a Game 7 win over the Bucks.
• Known for his defense, Williams had struggled from 3 in the previous four games.

Grant Williams hadn't made a three-pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks since Game 4, nearly a week ago.

But in Game 7, Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka and Williams' teammates all had a message for him: "Let it fly."

The 23-year-old Williams, a third-year forward, exploded on Sunday, going 7-of-18 from three-point range to help the Celtics beat the Bucks, 109-81. His 27 points led the Celtics as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals to play the Miami Heat, a rematch from 2020.

Williams' 18 attempts broke Stephen Curry's record for most threes attempted in a Game 7. His seven made threes tied the record, also held by Curry.

It was a stunning eruption from Williams, who hit an excellent 41% of his threes in the regular season, but averaged only 3.4 attempts per game. Williams has shot it well from three during the postseason, but had hit a minor slump against the Bucks, making just two of his last 14 attempts over four games.

"I've worked on my shot enough to be able to knock those down and be confident enough to shoot them," Williams told reporters after the game.

He added: "It's tough to get in your own head when your entire team, like 15 people, walk up to you and say, 'Let it fly, keep shooting it.'"

In Game 7, Williams made his first attempt, but then began misfiring, as he missed five of his next six attempts in the first half.

The Bucks defense is designed to protect the paint. As a result, they grant (no pun intended) open threes to players they deem less of a threat from distance. On a team with sharpshooters like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, that meant giving Williams tons of open space.

"For me, it was just like, alright, [the Bucks] are encouraging it, might as well take advantage," Williams told reporters after the game. "So, each one, as time went on, got more comfortable, kept shooting."

A made three late in the second quarter seemed to open up things from Williams: including that shot, he made four of his next 6 attempts.

Williams' seventh and final three-pointer was particularly timely — a walk-up, transition three from the left elbow that pushed the Celtics' lead to 16 with 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.

—Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 15, 2022

After the game, Udoka and Williams both joked about Williams sharing (and beating) Curry's Game 7 three-pointers record, saying they are two great shooters from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Williams has played a big role in the postseason for his defense on superstars like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In the biggest game of the season, however, it was his offense that shined. He told reporters that he will only briefly bask in the glory.

"That's just pretty cool to be kind of happy about," Williams said."I guess I have to forget about it tomorrow because we gotta get ready for the Heat."