With Smith back from suspension, Knicks try again to wrap up series against Celtics

Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry gives his sneakers to fans as he leaves the court following their 97-90 win over the New York Knicks in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Boston, Sunday, April 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry (4) exhorts the crowd to cheer during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the New York Knicks in Boston, Sunday, April 28, 2013. The Celtics won 97-90 in overtime. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – J.R. Smith says the Knicks' first-round series against the Celtics would have ended in four games had he not been suspended.

When he dropped Boston's Jason Terry with an elbow to the chin late in Game 3 on Friday night, Smith earned a suspension that left New York without its No. 2 scorer during the regular season for Game 4 on Sunday.

The Knicks didn't have enough offense without him, losing 97-90 in overtime as Terry, not the Sixth Man of the Year, hit the big shots off the bench.

Had Smith been available, perhaps this series would already be over.

Smith said Tuesday: "I would've been playing golf today."

Instead, he was practicing for Wednesday's Game 5, when the Knicks will try again for their first series win since 2000.