BOSTON — J.R. Smith may have been suspended for Game 4, but Raymond Felton was a fine impersonator.
With Smith sitting yesterday after his one-game suspension, Felton was sensational in the Knicks’ 97-90 overtime loss at TD Garden. The point guard scored 27 points, including 16 in the third quarter when he almost single-handedly sliced the Celtics’ 20-point lead to three.
“He took the role of J.R. Smith,” Celtics coach Rivers said, “and did a pretty good job of it tonight.”
Felton capped his third-quarter scoring burst with a 26-foot 3-pointer from the wing that closed the period and trimmed Boston’s lead to 68-65. From the time that Boston led 59-39 (with 8:48 left in the third) until the end of the quarter, the Knicks reeled off a 26-9 run. Felton scored 16 of the 26 points.
“Somebody had to try to pick up the slack [with Smith out], so I tried to be a little more aggressive,” Felton said, “especially in the second half.”
Felton — who also added four rebounds, three assists and three steals while committing just two turnovers — is having a terrific playoff series in his first postseason as a Knick. He’s averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting a lofty 48 percent and committing just 1.8 turnovers a game.
Behind Carmelo Anthony, Felton has ranked as the Knicks’ second-best postseason player.
“He’s had a damn good playoffs so far,” coach Mike Woodson said.
Felton’s third-quarter spree began with the Knicks trailing 59-43 when he was fouled on a drive with 7:12 left, sinking both free throws. He later drained a 3-pointer from the wing, hit one of two from the line, drilled another 3, hit a long jumper, converted a driving layup and dropped in his 26-footer.
With 1:18 left in the fourth quarter, Felton also hit an 18-footer to put the Knicks up 84-82 — their first lead of the second half.
“He was huge,” Kenyon Martin said. “He was huge in this game for us. Especially missing J.R., we needed someone else to make shots for us and he did that for us.”