Despite Loss, Knicks Confident Going Into Game 5

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BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony and his teammates wanted to sweep the Celtics on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden, but instead they will head home with a split of the two games here.

All things considered, the Knicks can’t be too unhappy about leaving Beantown with a 3-1 series lead.

After all, they can now win their first playoff series in 13 years on the Madison Square Garden floor Wednesday night in Game 5.

“We look forward to bringing this game back home to the Garden on Wednesday and the Garden will be rocking Wednesday,” Anthony said after going for 36 points on 10-for-35 shooting in the 97-90 OT loss. “We’ll be prepared for that.”

J.R. Smith Suspended for Game 4

BOSTON — The Knicks will have to go for the sweep of the Celtics without J.R. Smith.

The NBA suspended Smith, the newly-minted Sixth Man of the Year, for Sunday’s Game 4 for his Flagrant Foul 2 on Jason Terry with 7:06 remaining in the Knicks’ 90-76 victory in Game 3.

“Don’t think there should be any suspension,” Knicks center Tyson Chandler said before the suspension was announced. “I think it was kind of a heat of the moment thing and he was trying to create space.”

Knicks May Soon Face Another Amar’e Dilemma

BOSTON — The Knicks may soon face another Amar’e dilemma.

With New York on the brink of a sweep of the Boston Celtics in their first-round playoff series, Stoudemire is expected to return from knee surgery for a second time this season — this time for a potential second-round date with Indiana or Atlanta.

“‘He’s gonna play, absolutely, yes…He’s a big piece to our puzzle,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said here Saturday, one day before the Knicks look to sweep the Celtics in Game 4 at TD Garden.