The New York Knicks were one of the hottest teams in the NBA to start and end the season and after going up 3-0 on the Boston Celtics, the team appeared to be ready to sweep, but after guard JR Smith was suspended, the Celtics were able to pull out the game with a 97-90 overtime win.
According to ESPN.com, Smith was asked after the game about whether the Knicks would have won if he played and the guard responded with a "yes". Smith was suspended for Game 4 after committing a flagrant foul with an elbow at Jason Terry in the Game 3 Knicks victory and now the team has a chance to close it out in front of the home crowd at MSG. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 hole, but with a win the Celtics will give themselves and their fans some hope that they can force a Game 7.
Smith said he watched the game he missed on television and Terry scored nine points in overtime to help the Celtics come out on top, while the Knicks bench was lacking without Smith, scoring just seven points. Carmelo Anthony was off his game for the first time in the series and missed 25 shots. Smith has been a game changer for the Knicks and he won the Sixth Man of the Year award in the NBA. The series win for the Knicks would be an important one, as they haven't won a playoff series in over a decade. The Knicks can challenge the Heat of they make it to the conference finals and the team appears to be playing well at the right time
"It was very tough to watch," Smith said. "Especially that first half. I mean, from the turnovers to missing shots. ... It wasn't the easiest thing ever.
