CHICAGO — The Knicks won’t be the very worst.
Point guard Dennis Smith Jr., starting in place of an ailing Mario Hezonja, scored 25 points and had five assists, while Kevin Knox chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Knicks avoided becoming the worst team in franchise history with a defense-oriented 96-86 victory over the Bulls at United Center on Tuesday night.
In winning their second straight and moving to 17-64, the Knicks have not escaped the throes of futility just yet. With a loss Wednesday to the Pistons in the season finale at the Garden, David Fizdale’s team would equal the worst record in franchise annals, held by the 2014-15 Knicks at 17-65.
The Pistons will be desperate, possibly needing the victory to qualify for the playoffs.
“I never looked at it,’’ Fizdale said of making history. “It doesn’t define me. I have a lot more things to do in this league.’’
Fizdale said that when there were seven games left, he issued a challenge to the Knicks that this would be their playoffs — a seven-game series. They are 3-3 so far.
“Guys wanted the game,’’ Fizdale said. “They’ve really taken [the seven-game] challenge.’’
“[Fizdale] said treat it like a seven-game series and it’s down to tomorrow,’’ Smith said. “We’re treating it the same as [the Pistons]. They want to get in the playoffs. We’re trying to keep them out of it. Winning is always important.’’
According to Fizdale, Hezonja vomited in the shower a half-hour before the game. But instead of that being a bad omen, the Knicks rolled to a 13-2 start and were up 27-11 after five minutes before hanging on for the win.
Knox had equaled the Bulls’ point total to that juncture with 11 points, making four of his first five shots, but then missed 10 straight shots — a microcosm of his rookie year.
After Knox’s third straight 3 in the first quarter, the Bulls called timeout and the Knicks rookie showed emotion — clapping his hands.
The Bulls, who started a G-League-like lineup that included Shaquille Harrison, Wayne Selden, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, battled back to trail 57-50 at halftime.
Smith closed the half with a spinning layup and hit the deck on his bad back. He is playing at less than 100 percent, but ferociously posted 19 points in the first half. He also had three turnovers, but looked like he was playing for the eighth seed.
Fizdale said the medical staff believes Smith is at no risk of further injury, adding it is about “pain tolerance.’’
As an emergency starter at point guard, Hezonja had put together back-to-back gems, but the Knicks didn’t need him Tuesday.
The Knicks went cold in the second half, but held the Bulls Lite to 36 percent shooting. The lowlight came when rookie Mitchell Robinson shakily attempted just his third jump shot of the season and it fell way short. Robinson collected 16 rebounds.