NBA

Woodson’s Knicks to keep defensive mindset

The Celtics may have already blown their best shot.

With the Knicks vulnerable Saturday in Game 1, the Celtics may have lost their only opportunity to seize momentum in the first-round series.

Evidence suggests the Knicks are only going to get better and it’s only going to get tougher for the Celtics as the series resumes tomorrow with Game 2 at the Garden.

The Celtics gave the Knicks a good scare, but the Knicks’ record-setting fourth-quarter defense sealed the Game 1 win, 85-78, and made them again resemble a club with championship mettle.

If defense wins titles, the Knicks, reputed more for their record-setting 3-point shooting and league-best turnover rate, are on their way. The Heat should look over their shoulders for a May slugfest.

“It’s what good teams are supposed to do,’’ coach Mike Woodson said in yesterday’s conference call regarding their playoff-record fourth-quarter defense in holding the Celtics to eight points.

“We’ve been one of the best fourth-quarter defensive teams in the league [ranked second]. That’s the time you have to step up and make plays. I thought [Saturday’s] game, we were probably more solid than we’ve ever been all season in terms of locking in and rotating.’’

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Center Tyson Chandler, who played his season’s most ineffective game Saturday after sitting out two weeks to rest his neck, was rusty and suffered through a scoreless, shotless day. Woodson said he expects the center to be “back up to speed’’ tomorrow.

“It won’t take him long,’’ Woodson said. “That was a factor. I could tell the way he was moving, he didn’t have the pop we’re used to seeing him have. That’s expected. Eventually he’ll get his stamina back.’’

The Knicks are also figuring on having starting guard Pablo Prigioni (ankle) back for tomorrow, changing the matchup dynamics in the Knicks’ favor.

With Prigioni starting in a two-point-guard alignment, defensive specialist Iman Shumpert will shift to hound series X-factor Jeff Green, the athletic wing who pumped in 20 first-half points.

Carmelo Anthony was switched to Green in the second half and slowed him down. But an Anthony-Green battle is not what Woodson has in mind because the Knicks want to keep Anthony out of foul trouble and fresh on offense.

The alignment with Prigioni puts less pressure on rookie Chris Copeland, who started despite a sore shoulder and jangling nerves. Copeland, who started out on Green, will head to the bench.

Woodson revealed their matchup preference is Raymond Felton dogging Paul Pierce and Shumpert on Green. Felton did good work on Pierce late, forcing him into an errant pass that Anthony intercepted for a breakaway layup.

“If Pablo’s back, the lineup changes to start out anyway,’’ Woodson said. “We probably have Raymond on Paul, Iman on Green. That’s what we envisioned coming into the series before Pablo got hurt. I thought Melo did an excellent job on Green. Green’s a tough cover for anybody.’’

The Knicks also don’t expect poor shooting nights from their dynamic 1-2 punch, Anthony and J.R. Smith (20-of-48).

The Knicks’ defense won Game 1, not the offense, which looked sluggish (40.5 percent). The pace, ball movement and shotmaking was off.

“We went back and charted our offense,’’ Woodson said. “We had some slow times where it was very stagnant. At times where we had movement and good looks and just didn’t make shots that could’ve broke the game open. When you play playoff basketball, it’s not always going to go pretty offensively. It’s the first thing that normally goes because everyone’s so locked in from a defensive standpoint.’’

The Knicks held Boston without a field goal in the final 4:32. Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, who played the fourth quarter over Chandler, were the defensive stars. Just like they were once with the New Jersey Nets, who advanced to two straight NBA Finals.

“Both of them are still relentless and savvy,’’ Woodson said.

Anthony played off the first win with great humility.

“Although we won, we didn’t really do nothing,’’ Anthony said. “We just protected our home court, got our first win. Game 2 will be even tougher.”

Maybe not.