Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com writes that Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams is grieving the loss of his mother to a battle with cancer.
"It was tough," he said. "That's my mom. But I had to look at it a different way: She's in a better place now. She's not suffering anymore. I know she's not suffering. I got a chance to talk to her before she passed away and I let her know how I felt. I'm just so glad she's not suffering anymore."
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"My mom was a fighter so I'm going to keep fighting," Williams said. "I had similar instances where I've been hurt, but I'm going to keep fighting because I know that's what she wants me to do. That's what she did and I got that fight from my mom. I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to push through."
Williams, 23, has not yet played this season after undergoing season-ending surgery on a torn Achilles back in September.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter