Meaningless win costs Knicks sole possession of top lottery seed. By Marc BermanApril 13, 2015 | 11:00pm http://goo.gl/7aHNkG ATLANTA — Suddenly with one game left, the Knicks, in a worst-case scenario, could drop as low as sixth in June’s NBA draft. That seemed inconceivable when the Knicks appeared destined for a top-four pick. The Knicks starting backcourt of Langston Galloway and Tim Hardaway Jr. powered them to a stunning 112-108 victory over the Eastern Conference powerhouse Hawks on Monday at Philips Arena, but it has cost the franchise the undisputed No. 1 lottery seed. The Knicks’ two-game road-trip sweep improved their record to 17-64 as they moved one game ahead of the Timberwolves with one game to play. (Minnesota was routed by the Pelicans, 100-88, for its 11th straight loss.) If the Knicks had finished with the league’s worst record and top seed, Phil Jackson was assured of a top-four pick and a 25 percent chance of winning the lottery. That’s over. Now, to get the No. 1 seed the Knicks would need to lose their regular-season finale, have the Wolves beat the Thunder, and then win a coin flip. And even in that scenario, both teams split the odds of the top two seeds, giving each squad about a 22.3 percent chance of winning the lottery. The coin flip would determine positioning. Knicks coach Derek Fisher wasn’t apologizing for winning, and hurting their lottery chances. “I’m sure people are upset with us tonight,’’ Fisher said. “But you never go out here and try not to play your best. It’s a hard thing to do. … Despite our record and whatever probabilities and percentages are with us winning the game, in terms of our future, it has no bearings on these guys’ lives.’’ If the Knicks finish with the second seed, as is now most likely, they could fall as far as fifth in the draft. The second seed lowers its chances of winning the lottery to 19 percent. And astonishingly, there’s still a chance of finishing with the third seed after the Sixers lost to the Bucks on Monday. If the Knicks win Wednesday against Detroit to finish this season on a three-game winning streak and the Sixers lose in Miami, they would both finish at 18-64 and there would be a coin flip between the Knicks and Philly for the second and third seed. If the Knicks get the third seed in the lottery, they would have just a 15 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick and could fall all the way to sixth in the draft. The Knicks built a 17-point lead midway through the second quarter 61-44 and were shooting 65 percent. The Hawks crawled back before Jason Smith clinched it with two free throws with 9 seconds left. Galloway poured in a career-high 26 points, making 10-of-12 shots — including 6-of-6 from the 3-point line. Hardaway dumped in 23 points after being a hero in the victory in Orlando. Jason Smith added 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. “[Galloway] just continues to make plays and be tough-minded,’’ Fisher said. “That’s what’s impressive about him.’’ The votes for the NBA’s official postseason awards are due in Thursday and the Knicks will likely have just one honoree in Galloway, an undrafted rookie who is second among first-year players in scoring at 11.8 ppg in 42 games and could land on one of the all-rookie teams. Galloway played four years at St. Joseph’s and was bypassed in the draft. The Knicks signed him to a 10-day contract off the D-League Westchester squad in January. “Nowadays it’s off of potential, really,’’ Galloway told The Post. “When you go to school for four years, it’s almost — I don’t want to say it’s bad — but it looks bad because there’s a whole bunch of young guys coming out and they get drafted before all the upperclassmen.’’ Fisher recently cited Galloway as being the leader of the locker room, feeling he helped change the culture. “It’s unexpected,’’ Fisher said of Galloway’s rise to all-rookie contention. “Not necessarily because of his abilities, but not being on the radar, not being the guy many people even knew about it. Circumstances played out in a way that a great opportunity presented himself and he was ready to take advantage of it.’’ -- ........ --

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