Knox eyes FT fix before Mikal meet

INDIANAPOLIS — Across the past seven games, Kevin Knox has come on offensively, even if his free-throw shooting is a puzzling mess.

Knox regained his starting slot the past four games, so it’s a good time to face Phoenix’s rookie small forward, Mikal Bridges, who also is starting for the moribund Suns and making a name for himself on the defensive end.

Knox faces Bridges for the first time Monday, when the leagueworst Suns visit the Garden. Bridges has started 16 of the Suns’ 30 games, averaging 7.6 points on 41 percent shooting — 33.3 percent from 3-point land.

Known as a “3-and-D” player coming out of Villanova, Bridges is averaging 1.3 steals — top five among rookies — and shooting 84.8 percent from the freethrow line, where Knox is struggling.

Knox beat out both Bridges — Mikal and Miles — in the final days leading into the draft, winning the nod off his spectacular group workout where he outplayed Miles Bridges. The Knicks were disappointed Mikal Bridges, who won two NCAA titles, wasn’t willing to showcase himself in a group workout and instead worked out solo for them.

As has been reported, Knicks coach David Fizdale pushed hard late for Knox because of the challenge of developing his greater upside. Bridges, 22, was one of the oldest players in the draft while Knox was second-youngest.

“That’s my guy,” Knox told The Post. “I talked to him a lot through the draft process, the combine, week of the draft. It will be really cool to go against him. I’ve seen highlights. He’s really good defensively.”

Knox was 0-for-2 from the free-throw line Sunday, two days after his two late missed free throws against Charlotte could have turned costly. He’s shooting just 64 percent from the line.

“I need to focus on getting to the freethrow line and knocking them down in practice and getting them in the game,” Knox said. “I got no idea [why I’m missing them]. I’m going to watch the film and I’m going to fix it. I’m too good a shooter to shoot that bad at the freethrow line.’’