NEW YORK — The Celtics are halfway home to history.

Jason Terry drilled 5-of-7 from 3-point range and finished with 17 points while Paul Pierce was 4-of-8 from long distance and added 16 as the Celtics overcame an early 11-point hole and stunned the Knicks, 92-86, Wednesday night in Game 5 at TD Garden. Game 6 is now set for Friday night at TD Garden, with the Celtics trailing, 3-2, in the best-of-seven series.

Jeff Green scored 18, Brandon Bass added 17 and Kevin Garnett hauled in 18 rebounds and hit a key jumper with under a minute left, as the Celtics became the 11th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after falling into a 3-0 hole. Only three have ever forced a Game 7 and none have ever come all the way back and won the series.

Boston finished 11-for-20 from 3-point range while the Knicks were 5-for-20 from distance.

Kenyon Martin and several Knicks arrived at Madison Square Garden wearing all black, making good on a promise to dress for what they predicted was a Celtics’ funeral. J.R. Smith, who announced the Knicks would’ve won Game 4 and swept the series if he weren’t suspended, missed his first 11 shots and picked up a double-technical with Terry midway through the fourth quarter. The game ended with a heated exchange between Jordan Crawford and Raymond Felton as the two teams walked off the court.

But early on, things couldn’t have started much worse for the Celtics. They missed their first five jumpers from the floor while the Knicks raced out to an 11-0 lead.

Bass was the only Celtics player holding things together. Bass hit his first three shots while the rest of the Celtics started 0-for-8.

Trailing 15-6, Bass’ layup started a 14-7 Celtics run to end the first quarter and Boston trailed by just two, 22-20, with Bass tallying nine points.

The Knicks were clearly frustrated and borderline shaken by Boston’s ability to fight back. Kenyon Martin picked up his third foul with 9:10 left in the second quarter when he delivered a tomahawk chop to Kevin Garnett. The call was initially ruled ‘Flagrant 1′ but was rescinded after video review.

The Knicks appeared to right the ship somewhat after that, opening a 32-26 lead on a Raymond Felton layup with 7:26 left. But the Celtics again responded with a fury. Paul Pierce hit a pair of threes that sparked a 19-7 run to end the second quarter, as Boston silenced a very nervous Madison Square Garden crowd and took a 45-39 halftime lead. Garnett was big on the glass in the first half, with nine rebounds and 10 points.

Terrence Williams was an unsung hero off the bench for the Celtics as he and Jason Terry were the only Celtics to sub in during the first half. The only bit of bad news in the second quarter came with 2:29 left when Bass picked up his third personal foul.

The Celtics continued their aggressive play early in the third as Garnett grabbed two quick rebounds in the first minute and Jeff Green gave Boston its biggest lead, 47-39 before Iman Shumpert connected on a three. 8:41 Pierce 3 52-44 7:50 dunk Chandler oop from Felton. It was Felton again at the heart of New York’s attack when his layup with 6:01 left cut Boston’s lead to two, 56-54.

But the Celtics countered. Pierce nailed a long straightaway three re-established Boston’s biggest lead, 66-58, with 3:37 left in the third. As was the case late in the second quarter, the Knicks went ice cold while Celtics got a big boost from Jason Terry. His fourth three of the night with 41.9 seconds left in the third gave Boston its biggest lead, 69-60, a lead they would take into the fourth quarter.

With just over 11 minutes left, Anthony appeared to get tangled with Garnett in the paint and came away holding his left shoulder. After a brief timeout 10:30 fallaway shot by Garnett and Celtics were up, 71-60. Two Bass free throws and a one-handed tomahawk jam by Green gave Boston its biggest lead, 75-60 with 9:04 left.

The Knicks then came to life, scoring seven straight points to cut the Celtics’ lead to 10 with 7:01 remaining. Anthony drove to the basket and was fouled. After a long timeout, he drained two free throws with 5:57 left and the lead was down to eight. Bass ended the run with a bank shot, putting Boston up, 77-67. Terry’s three with five minutes left gave Boston an 80-67 lead. Green hit a pair of huge threes, including one with 2:23 left to put Boston up, 88-76.

The Knicks scored the next seven points, capped by three from Smith with 1:05 left to cut Boston’s lead to five, 88-83. Garnett’s jumper with 48.3 put Boston ahead, 90-83.

For complete coverage from Mike Petraglia on the scene at Madison Square Garden, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics.

Doc talked to Sean Grande before Game 5 in New York. Doc said the team can't afford to have a bad quarter like in the previous games.

[0:00:00] ... five edition of the Celtics that I represented by Lexus continues. From Madison Square Garden are probably citizens is our conversation with that coach Doc Rivers. It is always -- for the healthcare Harvard health care. Austin that's conversation. At times you know if you win this game ...
[0:01:03] ... is building -- year thirsting it's been forever since they won a playoff series what beyond Texas knows characterizes. A win like this that he's the ultimate don't let go of the rope at any time ...
[0:02:24] ... sort of speak it's been two days now. We have yet -- Jason Collins made the announcement we've always know what's coming from someone still. Does it make you smile to an -- later. And even ...

A couple great stories from Jason Collins‘ podcast with Bill Simmons about Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett that might instill some confidence in Celtics fans prior to Game 5 against the Knicks …

What’s your best Kevin Garnett story?

“He could be telling you about the weather, and he’ll break out in a full sweat. His intensity is just non-stop. It’s infectious. It makes you work even harder and makes you want to show up even earlier to practice, because you know that this guy is sacrificing his body. He plays through so much behind the scenes. He puts himself out there emotionally and physically. He’s a pro’s pro.”

Will he retire at the end of this season?

“You’ve got to ask him that. I hope not.”

Could you see him shutting that switch off?

He’s going to be that way until the end of his days. He’ll be going hard in a nursing home, although I don’t think he’ll ever be in a nursing home with the amount of money he’s making. He’ll have the suite.

“His intensity is really inspiring. I think if he ever chooses to be an assistant coach, he’d be great. I don’t know if he ever has that in him. He would be awesome with Charles [Barkley on TV]. They might need a seven-second delay for him. Obviously, he can do whatever he wants.”

Is Doc Rivers the best coach you’ve played for?

“I played for a lot of great coaches, but there’s a special place in my heart for Doc Rivers. Just the way he always talks about the team, and me being a team guy, it just really spoke to my heart. Not only the team, but it’s a family. He had that one saying that just stuck with me: If you want to go quickly, go by yourself. If you want to go farther, you’ve got to go in a group.’ It’s comments like that — that someone like me, a team guy who sacrifices so much — I appreciate his professionalism.

“I hadn’t played in a long stretch of games, and he called me into his office and said, ‘Jason, I want you to know that we see you working hard in the training room, and when you’re opportunity comes, just be ready.’ I’m like, ‘Doc, you don’t even need to have that conversation with me. I appreciate that you show me that professional courtesy, that respect of having that conversation with me, but you don’t have to have that conversation with me, because I’m already there with you.’

“He really is an amazing leader, and KG and Paul [Pierce] can speak better to the kind of person, coach and leader he is.”

NEW YORK — No one knows trash talking like Kevin Garnett.

He also knows how to tune it out like no one else, or at least not feed into publicly.

J.R. Smith said there wouldn’t be a Game 5 tonight in New York if he had not been suspended for Game 4 while Kenyon Martin is suggesting black formal wear at Madison Square Garden for the Celtics’ funeral.

“I have not paid attention to none of the shenanigans,” Garnett said before Wednesday morning’s shootaround at Madison Square Garden.

Garnett says he knows what it will take to be successful in Game 5 – taking one possession at a time and not getting overwhelmed by New York’s tenacious defense.

“It’s not that hard to be honest,” Garnett said of the approach. “Taking one possession at a time is something you have to be conscious of, not individually but as a group. Understanding each possession and what it means, the importance of that possession. Small things are what’s going to make this a do-or-die type of game.

“I think it’s more, not for us to [instill] doubt, but it’s important to show some type of barrier, if not willingness, in this whole game. We know we’re playing on the road and we know they play really well here. I think the important thing is not to get down, to come out with some fire and play throughout with that fire.”

Garnett appreciates some of the fire on the Celtics bench in the form of Rajon Rondo. Garnett said he’s been huge in helping Avery Bradley and Terrence Williams while being an extra pair of eyes for him and Paul Pierce in the post.

“More importantly, he’s talking to Avery, T-Will, the guys who play the point guard position, Paul and I about opportunity and being aggressive, giving coaching staff a perspective. Doe is a very smart guy, very high-IQ when it comes to a lot of different things. He’s giving his take on what he sees out there as far as where he’s at. But more importantly being a safety net for Avery right now. Avery goes through periods where it’s difficult. It’s going to happen. We’ve all been young before. Just being like a security blanket for Avery and anyone else who needs it.”

Garnett has 34 rebounds in the last two games. What has been the secret to success?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t really [put] thought into it, to be honest. A lot of rebounding is timing. Tyson and I, Kenyon and I are down there battling for the ball. It’s not one or two things that go into it, nor would I like to share but the things that I have been doing are working for me and I’m going to stick with it.

“You don’t have a choice whether you like it or not. It’s whether you adapt or not. If you don’t adapt, you know what end you end up on and I don’t want to end up on that end.”