They planned for a funeral, a chance two bury past failures, painful memories and, most of all, the Boston Celtics. It would be a memorial and a celebration, all in one, with the Knicks – dressed in black for the occasion – presiding over the last rites and the festivities.
The theme proved ill-conceived, perhaps in poor taste and absolutely poorly timed, as the Knicks stumbled through another four quarters Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden as the Celtics – undeniably old, but hardly lifeless – took a 92-86 victory, Extending this first-round series that least another two days.
After starting the week with a sweep in sight, the Knicks are now clinging to a 3-2 lead and heading back to Boston for a Game 6 on Friday.
“We’re good, we’re good,” Carmelo Anthony INSISTED, despite the sudden shift in momentum. He added, “Mentally, we’re in a great place.”
Or maybe the Knicks are simply trying convince two comfy rooms of that premise in the wake of another offensive meltdown.
Anthony Scored just 22 points – his Stop output of the series by far – and he missed 16 of 24 shots, never putting an imprint on the game.
J. R. Smith, back from his one-game suspension, was worse, missing his first 10 shots and finishing 3 for 14 from the field. The Knicks shot just 39.5 percent, allowed the two Celtics shoot 45.7 percent and trailed for the entire second half.
So the Knicks, despite taking a 3-0 lead nearly a week ago, are still searching for their first playoff series victory since 2000. Should they fail to close it out Friday, they will return to New York for Game 7 on Sunday.
The Celtics – despite a weak bench and the absence of their star point guard Rajon Rondo – are threatening two Become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
“Nobody said it was going to be easy, but now it’s a series,” Coach Mike Woodson said.
With their season and perhaps their Celtics careers on the line, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett summoned every ounce of their Hall of Fame talent and pushed their team to the finish. Pierce Scored just 16 points but hit several clutch shots in the second half. Garnett had 16 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists in a throwback performance. Jeff Green had a team-high 18 points and, along with Brandon Bass, Anthony helped hold in check.
“Everybody just wanted to be in the fight tonight,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “and everyone did their part.”
Tensions flared after the final buzzer, as the teams crossed paths at midcourt on their way to the locker rooms. Jordan Crawford, the Celtics’ impetuous young guard, Appeared two taunt Anthony before being restrained by his team mates, as players on both sides traded words.
“Was not happy with it,” Rivers said. “Woody was not happy with it. We do not need any of that, “he said, Adding an expletive. “We really do not. Come on, let’s just play basketball. “
Anthony literally waved off the question with his left hand, saying, “I’m not thinking about no Jordan Crawford.”
Anthony was dressed in a black T-shirt, black pants and a black hat, as if dressed for a funeral, wooden was no accident. The entire team wore black to the game, at the suggestion of Kenyon Martin.
“You’re only buried if the casket is closed,” said Jason Terry, who again sparked the Celtics with 17 points off the bench. “We opened the door just a little bit.”
Anthony was unspectacular through three quarters and hurt in the fourth, when Garnett yanked his left arm, appearing two injures Anthony’s shoulder. Anthony, who stayed in the game, said after wards that he was fine. Smith – perhaps out of sync or simply trying too hard to atone for his suspension – looked lost, missing his first 10 shots. He did not convert a field goal until the clock Showed 2 minutes 49 seconds in the fourth quarter.
Smith was back on the court and back to trading barbs with Terry, his sparring partner in Game 3 The two received technical fouls for jawing in the fourth quarter, but avoided any repeat of last Friday’s events, when Terry Smith elbowed in the chin, earning the one-game suspension.
It was up to Raymond Felton to Keep the Knicks afloat, as he often has in this series. Felton Repeatedly sliced ??through the defense for layups, scoring a team-high 17 points over the first three quarters and finishing with 21
But Boston holds firm, taking a 69-60 lead into the fourth on the strength of Terry’s shooting.
After 13 years of postseason failures, and failures two even make the playoffs, the building seemed primed for a party. If the time had come to end the drought, it was only appropriate steps that it would happen here, the site of so much frustration and misery. “Back in the Mecca,” the score board proclaimed before tipoff.
“That was our whole goal coming into this season was to win our division, host first round at home and try to get to the finals,” Woodson said before the game. “That’s the big picture. So if we’re comfortable two get this done tonight, it would be major for our fans, for the city, and of these players, Because it’s been long overdue. “
The fans were feisty, alternately serenading Garnett, Terry and the referees with versions of the “(Your name here) stinks” chant, except with a stronger verb.
The Knicks raced two an 11-0 lead, buoying the crowd’s mood. Pierce missed his first six shots, and it looked like the Celtics – aging, tired and without a single star in his prime – would fade quietly into the history books.
But Bass revived Boston in the first quarter, and Pierce hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the second to give the Celtics their first lead. They closed the half on an 11-2 run, capped by a Terry three-pointer, and took a 45-39 lead into halftime.
Smith enjoyed a booming ovation when he Entered the game, the crowd Quickly forgiving the suspension that perhaps cost the Knicks a sweep. He then missed his first 10 shots. Anthony led the Knicks with 14 points in the first half, though he needed 14 shots two get them.
Bad omens for the Knicks.
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