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NEW YORK -- Analysis from the Boston Celtics' 92-86 defeat of the New York Knicks in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference first-round series on Wednesday evening at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks lead the series 3-2:

The nitty gritty: Jeff Green scored a team-high 18 points to pace five Celtics players in double figures, including Jason Terry with 17 points (five 3-pointers) off the bench and Paul Pierce with 16 points after overcoming early struggles. Kevin Garnett finished with 16 points and a team-high 18 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-24 shooting, while Raymond Felton added 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. J.R. Smith, back after a one-game suspension for elbowing Terry in Game 3, was a nonfactor for much of the night (and maybe even a liability) as he missed his first 10 shots. Smith finished with 14 points on 3-of-14 shooting after hitting a trio of late-game triples.

Turning point: In a one-possession game midway through the third quarter, the Celtics embarked on a 16-4 run spanning into the fourth frame. Pierce and Terry hit 3-pointers late in the third as Boston stretched its lead to nine, but the Celtics opened the fourth on a 6-0 burst that culminated with a vicious one-handed flush by Green that pushed the Celtics out front 75-60 with 9:05 to go. A feverish late-game rally saw the Knicks pull within five (88-83) with 65 seconds to play, but Garnett hit a tough jumper to help fend them off.

I'm still standing: The Celtics reserves typically stand until Boston's first made basket of the game. Still standing four-plus minutes in as the Knicks built an 11-0 run, the backups settled for when Brandon Bass -- the early hero of the game for Boston -- made a free throw to break up the shutout with 7:32 to play in the first quarter. The Celtics managed to trim their deficit to two at the end of the frame, and a more inspired second quarter had them up six at halftime as the momentum swung in their favor.

Technical difficulties: Smith and Terry -- involved in the Game 3 dust-up that got Smith ejected and later suspended for Game 4 for a flagrant foul 2 elbow -- renewed pleasantries and were assessed double technicals with 6:45 to play in the game. Earlier in the game, referees initially assessed Kenyon Martin with a flagrant foul for hammering Garnett. Upon video review, it was downgraded to a personal foul.

What it means:
Well, we appear to have a series again. With their backs to the wall after losing the first three games, the Celtics responded with back-to-back wins. As Doc Rivers will certainly point out now, this is as close as a series can be after five games. Boston has to like its chances of evening things up when the series returns to Boston for Game 6 on Friday night at TD Garden. But it's still an uphill climb for the Celtics and one that will require winning in New York again on Sunday if they can force a Game 7. But Boston is playing with renewed confidence after these two wins and has put New York on its heels.

BOSTON -- Kevin Garnett probably didn't understand the gravity of his statement. Neither did Paul Pierce.

Not long after Pierce admitted the Celtics sometimes forget about Garnett on the offensive end, Garnett emerged from the training room and stressed that getting shots on offense isn't what's needed from him.

Really?

That is, frankly, ludicrous for a team that's been as anemic on offense as Boston has been for the majority of its Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the New York Knicks. But for 17 vital minutes of Boston's 97-90 overtime victory in Game 4 on Sunday, it went out the window, as Garnett suddenly emerged as a needed factor on offense and helped propel Boston back into the series.

Garnett finished Sunday's win with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but seven of those came in the fourth quarter and overtime, amid a stretch when Boston's offense once again imploded and the Knicks rallied from a deficit that was as high as 20.

"That's what Kevin has been bringing us when he's out there, when he's not in foul trouble," Pierce said. "But I thought we did a better job of making an effort to go to him. Sometimes we forget about him in the offense, we get too perimeter-oriented taking a lot of jump shots. But Kevin, he's our bread and butter down in the post and we've got to give it to him and play inside-out. Most of the time when we get the ball to Kevin, good things are going to happen."

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With the Boston Celtics on the brink of playoff elimination, allow this to serve as your annual reminder to savor what could possibly be the final time Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett share the Garden floor together.

I know, I know. We've been here before in each of the past few seasons. But last year we saw the end of the Big Three era when Ray Allen defected to rival Miami. With each passing season, it seems the likelihood of a potentially larger roster overhaul grows. Maybe more so this season, given that these Celtics are on the verge of being swept out of the first round of the playoffs after a season plagued by injuries and inconsistencies.

Antennas are further heightened after Garnett and Pierce, along with Rajon Rondo, huddled in the shower area inside the team's locker room at TD Garden for a lengthy confab after a Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night put Boston in an 0-3 hole.

Was it a gabfest about how the Celtics could pull off the biggest comeback in NBA history? Or was it a trip down memory lane for a championship trio that knew it might never share that sort of moment again?

Neither Pierce nor Garnett was available to the media during Saturday's off-day availability. Both did speak after Game 3 and weren't overly maudlin, keeping the focus on what went wrong and how to reverse the momentum of the series in Sunday's Game 4.

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Quick hits following Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge's weekly appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI (93.7 FM) Thursday.

On whether he expects Kevin Garnett to be limited, physically, in Friday's Game 3: "No, listen, I think KG expects to be at his best tomorrow night. I don't know, he looked good in practice (Thursday), he's moving well, and I expect KG to be good (Friday)."

On whether not having a true point guard is hurting the Celtics right now: "I think those are just excuses. We've known this. We've been preparing for the playoffs for a few months. I think that we have what we have and we've got to do the best with it. I guess that right now I just don't think that we've played like we were capable of playing. I mean, it's one thing to lose to a team that deserves to beat you and is a better team. But I feel like we've come out ready to play, and for whatever reason, I have no idea, but the beginning of the third quarter in the last two games has not been good."

On whether the Celtics are unsure of what plays to run without Rajon Rondo: "Well we've had an opportunity to play a lot of games without Rondo. But, listen, if you just look around, this has been going on for 30 years. It's no secret. Great players at this time really step it up and our guy that was our best player last year in the playoffs, a guy that had 44 at Miami, that got us to the position that we were, that has been the MVP of multiple playoff series over the last handful of years -- not just playoff games, but playoff series -- he's a guy that's certainly capable of being the best guy on the court on any given night. He's a terrific player and we certainly miss him. We've been saying that all year long."

Pressed on whether the Celtics are unsure of what plays to run without Rondo: "Right, but, you know, I think that that's a little blown out of proportion, just because, hey, we had these same challenges before. I mean, losing double-figure leads in the fourth quarter of games is not something that has just happened. This has been going on for three or four years and I wish I knew. Sometimes I think we put such an effort and emphasis on defense that our guys don't have the energy to keep cutting and moving and so forth without the ball in the fourth quarter. I don't know what it is, but it's not just a Rondo issue. Missing Rondo, like I said, he has the ability to take over games, as we've seen him do, against the elite players in the world, and we don't have a player like that. That hurts us. But, not knowing what to do or what plays to run, every team goes through that a little bit, but we should not be having that problem, no."

On whether the Celtics need to be tougher on offense or defense: "To me it's all an attitude. I think when you try to define whether your offense wins or your defense wins, it's attitude that wins. Your perspective and the way you play the game, and I think that offense takes care of itself, sometimes. So, both is the answer. You've got to create offense sometimes with your defense if you're struggling, and you've got to find a way. I'd liken it to a pitcher who doesn't have his best stuff. You've still got to get guys out. And we've got to find a way to get stops and get in the open court as much as we can. But, offensively we need to assert ourselves, we need to be more physical offensively."

On whether Paul Pierce is being asked to do too much and others need to contribute more: "Yes. I mean, I think Paul has taken four charges in two games. I'm not sure anyone else on the team has taken any. Paul is our leading scorer, he's carrying an offensive burden. Paul is, right now, our best player and our best scorer and he needs help. He needs other guys stepping up and he can't do it the whole game. It's a grind for him, and Paul, still, shows signs of being a great player. He's not as consistently great as he was five years ago, but he still is a fantastic player in this league and he's showing that in this playoff series."

On what the Celtics need to do to come back and win the series: "We've got to make shots. I mean, we've got to have contributions out of a lot of people. We can't do it with one or two guys like New York has done. We don't have that kind of scoring power, we don't have the leading scorer in the NBA on our team right now. So, we've got to get contributions out of a lot of people."

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he planned to limit Kevin Garnett's activity during Thursday's practice with the goal of having him on the floor for Friday's Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round series against the New York Knicks.

Garnett suffered what Rivers has compared to a hip pointer during Tuesday's Game 2 loss. Garnett didn't address the injury specifically when talking before Thursday's session, but said simply that he's 'confident' he'll be healthy enough to play.

"I didn’t ask [the training staff]. That’s my rule, I try not to ask. Because they may give you the answer you don’t want to hear," Rivers joked about Garnett's status. "Right now, we’re planning on him practicing. I’m not going to let him go through the entire practice, even if he’s feeling good. I know a hip pointer, all you need is someone to bang into you or something. I don’t even know if it’s that, so we’re going to be careful."

Garnett sat out 10 of Boston's final 13 games, including eight straight due to left ankle inflammation. He also missed two games before that due to a left adductor strain.

Asked if he felt physically ready for Friday's Game 3, Garnett offered, "We're a confident group." He then repeated that same answer when pressed on his health.

Rivers said he doesn't remember exactly when the injury occurred during the second half of Tuesday's loss, but was initially concerned it was a stomach issue.

"I asked him two or three times if he could keep going, because at the time, I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was the stomach and when you see someone grabbing there you immediately think stomach muscle, which is the worst," said Rivers. "That’s why in our era, we didn’t do sit-ups, so we could never hurt that muscle, but that was my fear, and that’s a bad injury. And it wasn’t that. So after [team trainer] Eddie [Lacerte] told me it wasn’t that, I was good."

Garnett was limited by foul trouble in both Games 1 and 2. With the Celtics down 0-2 to the Knicks, he knows how important Friday's game is.

"When you're down 0-2 to a good team that's playing really well, that has a rhythm, desperation is definitely in play," said Garnett. "We can't afford to think otherwise. This is it. We cannot go down 0-3 to any team, I feel like in the postseason. It'd be a very difficult situation to put yourself in."

Garnett does expect to get a lift from being back at TD Garden, playing at home for the first time in 16 days, and the first time since the marathon bombings.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow -- being home, back in Beantown. Very much so," he said. "We haven't been home since all the current events and everything... so, yes, we're anticipating it being very emotional, very inspiring, and we're looking forward to coming out and trying to get this Game 3."

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said center Kevin Garnett suffered something similar to a hip pointer during Tuesday's loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first-round series at Madison Square Garden. Rivers stressed the injury is not serious and he does not expect him to keep Garnett off the floor moving forward.

Garnett is expected to participate in practice Thursday and be in the starting lineup for Friday's Game 3 at TD Garden. Garnett sat out 10 of the final 13 games of the regular season due to both ankle inflammation and strategic rest.

"He got hit in the -- it’s not the hip flexor, [but] a hip-pointer. It was very similar to having a hip-pointer in football, I guess," said Rivers. "It was affecting him. I was concerned that he had done something else, because where he was grabbing his hip, but I thought it was his stomach, where you pull a stomach muscle or something. That’s why I think in a couple timeouts, I kept asking if was he OK. And he is, he’s good."

Pressed on the injury, Rivers added: "He’s good to go. He’ll practice [Thursday] and then play on Friday."

Rivers said the Celtics plan to go right back to Garnett, who was disrupted by foul trouble that knocked him off his rhythm in Game 2. Heading into that game, the Celtics were focused on getting him more involved on offense.

"Him getting in foul trouble had a huge impact on the game," said Rivers. "We gotta find a way to keep him out of that. That hurt us. And it was clear. Listen, if Carmelo (Anthony) gets in foul trouble, it’s going to have a huge impact on the game for them. It did for us, no doubt. I actually thought Kevin started out great, you could see he was aggressive, ready, we were getting him in his spots. But, guys, you’ve been around this long enough, if you get two fouls early like he did, he really never was allowed to get his rhythm again."

When asked about force-feeding him again in Game 3, Rivers noted, "We got him right to the right spots that we wanted to, but again, he was sitting next to me a lot."

Rivers, who dubbed some of the early whistles against Garnett as "horrendous" after Game 2, hinted the league might not have been happy with his choice of adjectives.

"I didn't think I said much and that could be a problem," admitted Rivers. "Because all I basically said was, Kevin getting into foul trouble had a huge impact on the game. That's not criticizing officials. So I've just got to make sure I focus on our stuff."

Rivers said the team watched film on Wednesday and he again stressed to his players the need to make things easier on themselves on offense.

"The game, it’s not as difficult as we make it at times. In the first half, we got a lot of early baskets, a lot of transition baskets, we were so active defensively that we got out into breaks and we were able to score," said Rivers. "It’s what I said since [Rajon] Rondo’s gone down, that’s how we have to score. For us to score, though, we have to be even a better defensive team, and we were in the first half. In the second half, the third quarter, we gave up 32 points. And so everything felt like we were walking the ball up the floor, or under an amazing amount of pressure, and that’s where the Knicks, they clearly turned up the pressure. But the only way they were doing that is because they were scoring. And that allowed them to set their defense. It’s still connected and we have to be better."

Rivers said he believes that coming back to Boston -- a place the Celtics haven't played since April 10 after their regular-season home finale was cancelled in the aftermath of the marathon bombings -- will undoubtedly help his team.

"It feels like a month," said Rivers, whose team had been out of the area for a full week before returning home after Tuesday's game. "It will be great to be home. Obviously, this is an extreme circumstance, we missed our last home game of the year, which I don't know if that’s ever happened. And we’ve been on the road ever since. First of all, it’s just good to be back in Boston, period. Second, it will feel great and be great to be back in the Garden, playing in front of our fans. But we have to play better. We have to play harder. I thought clearly, the Knicks came out in the second half and, acted far more desperate than we did. And I thought it showed in the way they played."

With Kevin Garnett limited by foul trouble, Boston fell into 2-0 hole versus the Knicks:


And a look at how things are playing at ESPN New York:

NEW YORK -- As important as his defense is for the Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett's offense received the most attention following Boston's 85-78 loss in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series with the New York Knicks.

Over 36:36 of floor time, Garnett finished with just eight points on 4-of-12 shooting, never fully establishing the kind of rhythm that can make him a difference-maker for Boston on that end of the floor.

Ever since Garnett arrived in Boston, Celtics coach Doc Rivers has stressed the importance of establishing Garnett on offense early in postseason games. Rivers often points out how crucial rhythm is to Garnett's game, noting that he hasn't seen a player so reliant on being in rhythm since he played alongside Patrick Ewing two decades ago.

The general consensus following Game 1 was that Garnett didn't find the rhythm he needed, and his lack of involvement on offense fed into the Celtics' woes as a team, including lack of ball movement and poor spacing. Heading into Game 2, the Celtics believe Garnett needs more touches early, plain and simple.

"We're trying to establish him early," Paul Pierce said. "I don't think we really did that last game. Usually, at the start of the game we try to get him the ball. Usually, the first four or five possessions we want to get it to him, whether he's shooting the ball or making a play. We've got to establish him early because, usually, at the end of the day, it works out for us.

"We get off to a good offensive rhythm when he's touching the ball and we're moving it, and that's what we've got to do if we don't want to continue to struggle on the offensive end. And also early in the fourth quarter, we've got to do the same thing like we did when we start the game -- get the ball to him."

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NEW YORK -- When Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers shows his team the game film from its 85-78 loss to the Knicks in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series, Kevin Garnett might be among his first topics of discussion.

Rivers typically stresses how Garnett, whose defensive value to Boston is no secret, becomes something of a weapon on offense for the Celtics throughout the postseason, when opposing defenses typically tighten up and teams lean a bit heavier on their star players for needed points.

But, even if they had the right intentions on Saturday, the Celtics couldn't establish Garnett on offense the way they wanted to, and he finished with just eight points on 4-of-12 shooting to go along with nine rebounds over 36:36 of floor time, registering a minus-8 in plus/minus.

Part of it rests on Garnett, who not only appeared a bit rusty at times after missing 10 of Boston's final 13 regular season games, but suffered through some second-half foul trouble that limited Rivers' ability to utilize him for important stretches. But Rivers was quick to note how the team let Garnett down on offense on Saturday -- through forced entry passes, poor floor spacing, and an overall lack of ball movement -- and suffered accordingly.

"We were trying to get the ball to Kevin," Rivers said afterward. "I think we threw three passes from halfcourt to the post. I mean, you’re going to turn the ball over when that happens instead of just making the next pass, letting that guy make the pass when he’s in the passing area."

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On the final day of March, after his team had endured a 19-point loss to the New York Knicks -- the second lopsided defeat to their rival in a five-day span -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was asked if he was leery about the prospects of a Boston-New York playoff series.

"If Kevin doesn't play," Rivers answered.

Yes, everything is different for the Celtics when Kevin Garnett is on the floor. Six seasons after he arrived in Boston and helped deliver the team its 17th world title, the soon-to-be 37-year-old Garnett remains supremely vital to Boston's success.

Garnett sat out 12 of the team's final 17 regular-season games, including eight straight -- those two losses to New York included -- while allowing left ankle inflammation to subside.

Garnett will be operating on nearly a full week's rest when Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series with New York tips on Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. ET, ABC) at Madison Square Garden. After doing all they could to keep him down for the better part of the past month, the Celtics are ready to unleash Garnett in hopes he can help the team do what few believe they can: make another postseason run.

It was Garnett who bellowed, "Anything is possible" after the team dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals. That remains true for Boston, as long as Garnett is on the floor.

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WALTHAM, Mass. -- Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has expressed confidence in his team all season, but knows Boston will be in for a battle when it meets the New York Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs this weekend.

"(Carmelo Anthony's) playing unbelievable. I think their whole team is playing connected and they're going to be the task at hand, they're going to be, obviously, something to reckon with," Garnett said before Monday's practice. "We've got our work cut out for us."

Garnett later added: "You know Melo's going to get the majority of the shots. He's going to, obviously, lead their team and will their team. Other guys are going to follow suit. J.R. (Smith's) going to be very aggressive, as will every person who steps on the court. They're a very good shooting team, so, like I said, we've just got to be ready."

While Anthony likely rests at the top of the checklist of problems the Knicks present for Boston, New York's willingness to shoot 3-pointers can't be far behind. In the four regular season meetings between the two clubs, New York put up 115 3-pointers (28.7 per game). If the Knicks are knocking down shots from distance, Garnett knows the C's could be in for some long nights.

"We've definitely got to take the 3s away, slow them in transition, they love to run, at home and on the road," Garnett said. "So we've just got to be connected and obviously know what our game plan is, know it, like, in our sleep, and come out and execute it."

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BOSTON -- Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett is trying to shake any rust following an eight-game absence due to inflammation in his left ankle, but when asked about it following Boston's disappointing 101-93 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night -- just his second game back from the injury -- Garnett admitted he's still brushing off a few cobwebs.

"Absolutely," Garnett said after posting 11 points (5-of-11 shooting), eight rebounds, and four assists. "I can be better. And I will be."

In his return to action in Sunday's win over the Washington Wizards, Garnett managed 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds. It was a solid start considering the time he had missed, but Brooklyn's size and length in the front court on Wednesday halted Garnett's attempt to string together back-to-back steady shooting performances.

Garnett made just one of six first-half field goal attempts, finishing the opening 24 minutes with two points. He came back stronger in the second half, converting four of five shots, though there were signs that his timing and rhythm weren't quite where he'd like them to be. Garnett made just one of four shots in the paint, and appeared rushed at times, like when he missed consecutive layup bids early in the first frame.

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WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett joined his teammates for full-contact basketball activities for the first time in two weeks on Saturday and said he will use the team's off-day practice to better gauge when he might be able to return to game action.

The 36-year-old Garnett has been inactive since March 22 when left ankle inflammation forced the team to shut him down with the goal of getting him healthy. Celtics coach Doc Rivers had previously eyed Sunday's visit from the Washington Wizards as a potential return date for Garnett, but said he would see how he responded to Saturday's activity first.

Garnett's injury first flared in a loss in New Orleans on March 20 but he played through discomfort in Dallas on March 22. He said Saturday he was eager to get going again.

"I have some issues with my foot," explained Garnett. "More from like the motion, if you’re pushing the gas pedal. It’s an issue. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be out. But I am getting better. I’m going to practice today and Doc and I will have a conversation and make some decisions for the future."

Added Garnett: "Everybody is dealing with their different ailments, I’m no different from that. Obviously, as you get older, things tend to linger a little longer. I am getting stronger. I was able to heal up other things that were nagging me. But just my foot is an issue."

Both Garnett and Rivers stressed the importance of balancing the need to get Garnett some game reps over the final six games of the regular season and making sure he's healthy enough to dive back in.

"It’s important to get him back on the floor, but if he’s not ready, he’s not ready," said Rivers. "I don’t know what the number of games is, everybody has their own thing with that, rhythm-wise, each individual player. And I don’t what Kevin’s would be, but I do know he’s been out a while and the playoffs are soon. So the sooner he gets back on the floor, the better. And I would lean towards him, now, once he’s cleared health-wise, it’s probably better for him, even if he can’t play a lot of minutes, to play in games. Because no matter what we do in practice, practice will never duplicate a game. And it’s never going to be the same intensity."

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Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett, sidelined for the past seven games due to inflammation in his left ankle, expressed a desire to be as healthy and mentally refreshed as possible heading into the postseason.

Speaking Thursday with Celtics broadcast partner Comcast SportsNet, Garnett said he'll be ready to go full throttle regardless of his health by the time the playoffs arrive.

"Obviously, everybody wants a rhythm going into the playoffs. I'm no different than that," said Garnett. "I want to be as healthy as I can. Everybody's dealing with something at this time of year, and I'm no different from that. I just want to be strong. I want my mind fresh, I want to be as strong and as healthy as I can be, and go at this thing 1,000 percent. Nothing less than that."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Garnett could be back on the floor as early as Sunday's visit from the Washington Wizards.

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Celtics coach Doc River said prior to Thursday's practice that forward Kevin Garnett is seeing improvement in his injured left ankle and could return to action as early as Sunday's game against the Washington Wizards.

"I think he'll be back, maybe as early as Sunday, but I don't know yet," Rivers said. "He's not going to do anything (Thursday). He's doing all the running and stuff in (the weight room) and he'll do some court stuff without the team. And he'll probably participate in shootaround (Friday), but I'm not going to play him (Friday), even if he wants to play."

Garnett has missed the last seven games due to inflammation in his left ankle, which he originally injured in a March 20 loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

Garnett was spotted at the team's practice facility Thursday, exiting the training room to participate in a brief ceremony in which the Celtics honored members of the United States Air Force. Garnett was not wearing a walking boot or any other kind of protective gear.

Pressed if Garnett's condition was indeed improving, Rivers said: "Yeah, he feels good."