“De-fense!’’
It was better than it ever was yesterday in crunch time of a Knicks playoff game.
If this was the start of a genuine Knicks championship run, it began with De-fense and a historic performance. Coach Mike Woodson’s Knicks suffocated the Celtics in the final two periods, picking off passes, knocking balls away, clutching loose balls.
The Knicks held Boston to a record-tying 25 second-half points and a record-setting eight in the fourth quarter to win Game 1 of the first-round playoff series, 85-78, Saturday at the delirious Garden, whose crowd appreciated every moment.
“We played our best defense of the year in the second half,’’ catalyst Jason Kidd said. “We all have the belief and understanding championships are won playing defense. It wasn’t our best offensive night, but we stayed the course and got stops.’’
Before the game, Woodson put stickers above the players’ lockers: “16 to win.’’ That’s the number of playoff victories needed to win their first title in 40 years. Now make it 15, with Game 2 on Tuesday.
“It’s a wonderful feeling knowing we got our first win of the series here on our home court and took care of that business,’’ said Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 36 points, but lapsed into a deep shooting funk through the middle of the game.
This win wasn’t about Anthony’s shot-making. He lit it up early, making his first four shots in the first 3:12. Then Anthony went cold before lighting it up with a 4-of-5 fourth quarter. He finished 13-of-29 from the field.
No, this was about history-making defense, as the Knicks set the franchise record for fewest points allowed in the fourth quarter in the playoffs and tied the second-half playoff mark.
They were led by Kidd (three steals), the ever-gritty Kenyon Martin (10 points, nine rebounds) and Anthony’s defense on series X-factor Jeff Green in the second half.
“It was a matter of just wanting it,’’ Anthony said. “Willing our way on the defensive end.’’
Celtics defensive stalwart Kevin Garnett even tipped his hat.
“The Knicks, they’re not No. 1 [in the Atlantic Division] for nothing,’’ Garnett said. “They didn’t win the division because they were lazy or because they were a B team.’’
The Knicks trailed by seven points late in the third and rallied from a 70-67 deficit after three. Boston gave them a solid scare and Green pounded them for 20 first-half points before they stifled him in the second half. Green finished with 26. The Celtics were also hurting them with back-door cuts, leading to two straight second-quarter layups by offensively challenged Avery Bradley.
“We weren’t guarding the paint and they were getting too many layups,’’ Kidd said.
“We changed up coverages,’’ Woodson said. “Melo covered [Green] most of the second half and I thought did an excellent job on him.’’
The Celtics committed 21 turnovers overall. The fourth quarter was a highlight tape of Knicks interceptions, offensive rebounds, strips and hustle plays. The Celtics shot 7-of-27 in the second half and Kidd became the defensive star.
“Jason has been doing it all season,’’ Woodson said. “Loose balls, strips, keeping the ball alive. He seems to be at the right place at the right time.’’
“A champion’s heart,’’ Tyson Chandler said afterward.
This was Kidd’s first playoff game as a Knick after six playoff runs with the Nets.
“I thought the vibe was great,’’ Kidd said. “The Garden is an opponent when it’s jumping like this. It’s tough to play in. It’s been some time but it’s good to see the city jumping.’’
Anthony came on late. He intercepted a Paul Pierce pass, thrown as badly as a fling from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who sat in celebrity row. Anthony drove all the way in for a layup and an 81-76 lead with 2:31 left.
Anthony then hit a huge 20-foot jumper from the right wing with 1:21 left to give the Knicks an 83-76 bulge. He saved his best pass of the game for last — a bullet that became the rage of the locker room. Anthony connected with Martin (10 points) on a pick-and-roll, firing a missile that Martin grasped and dunked with 40 seconds left to make it 85-78. Anthony said Martin “bailed me out’’ by hauling it in.
“It was a major catch because he had so much steam on the ball,’’ Woodson said, saluting Martin.
Chandler called it purposefully “Flacco-to-Boldin hookup,’’ referring to the quarterback-receiver tandem of Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin on the Ravens squad Anthony reveres.
The Ravens won the Super Bowl. The Knicks are 15 wins away from the equivalent.
marc.berman@nypost.com