Knicks could be without Tim for a while

INDIANAPOLIS – Depending on the results of potentially season-making (or season-breaking) test results, Tim Hardaway Jr. may be out a while.

The starting shooting guard did not travel with the Knicks to Monday’s game at Indiana, as doctors in New York tried to uncover the reason for the pain in his lower leg that was described as a “stress reaction.”

If that diagnosis becomes a “stress fracture,” Hardaway Jr.’s recovery could last months.

“We will know a lot more in the next couple of days,” his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the Daily News.

There’s a lot at stake in those test results for the Knicks, who lost Sunday afternoon at home without Hardaway Jr.

“I think it’s concerning for anybody when an injury keeps you out more than a game or two. So he’s getting evaluated and we’ll probably find out more,” Jeff Hornacek said. “In the meantime, guys have to pick it up for us. Tim was not only a scorer for us. He gave us activity, he drove to the INDIANAPOLIS – The Knicks haven’t been good enough on the road regardless of who is playing. Add to that the absences of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis — and the Knicks were just noncompetitive and getting waxed by the Pacers.

The Knicks (11-12) lost for the fifth time in six games Monday – 115-97 in Indiana – and dipped to under-.500 for the first time since Nov. 1, when they were 3-4.

The Knicks are once again a losing team.

But no defeat this season felt more lopsided than Monday’s, as the Knicks were basically obliterated from the opening tip. The deficit was 13 in the first quarter, then 29 in the second, then 38 in the third. The Knicks never led. It hardly resembled basketball.

It reached the point that Jeff Hornacek pulled all his starters for good just 2½ minutes into the third quarter.

“We were playing bad,” said Michael Beasley, who took Porzingis’ spot in the lineup. “That’s what the coach is supposed to do. Put guys in the game that at least look like they want to play.”

Beasley’s carelessness with the ball was an issue again Monday, as he committed five turnovers in just 14 minutes. Jeff Hornacek spoke before the game about the forward’s ill-advised passes, then watched his warning go unheeded on the court.

“I just got to be better,” said Beasley.

But mostly, this was about a defense that had more holes than Kyrie Irving’s flat-earth theory. The Knicks allowed Indiana (1311) to shoot 54%, with Thaddeus Young dropping a game-high 20 points. It was over by the time Pacers guard Lance Stephenson was galloping around the court in the second quarter to celebrate his bucket.

If this is life without Hardaway basket. You could put him in high pickand-rolls, he can make some plays out of that. Some of the guys can do stuff out of that. We’re hoping it’s not too long.”

Kristaps Porzingis also missed Monday’s game because of a sprained right ankle and illness, but his injury is not considered serious. Hardaway Jr. has dealt with multiple ailments already in this short season, including a sore calf, sore foot and, as Hornacek revealed Monday, a sprained ankle.

Through it all, Hardaway Jr. has averaged career highs in points (17.8), assists Jr. and Porzingis, the Knicks better hope their top scorers are cleared soon. The alternatives haven’t looked very promising. Enes Kanter, who played especially poorly (the Knicks were outscored by 34 points when he was on the court), was part of the lineup that Hornacek pulled in the third quarter.

“When he takes all five out that means we’re not competing out there,” Kanter said. “Yeah (I wanted to go back in), but I can’t do nothing about it. Take me out, take me out. Take everybody out. He’s the boss.”

Led by Willy Hernangomez, the substitutes made the final score somewhat respectable by winning the fourth quarter, 32-20. Hornacek said he simply gave up on the game.

“The writing was on the wall so I gave those other guys a chance,” the coach said.

Porzingis (sprained ankle) could be ready by Wednesday’s home game against the Grizzlies. Hardaway Jr.’s status is a lot trickier, since he requires further tests to uncover the source of his lower leg pain. So far, the Knicks have characterized it as a “stress reaction.”

The Knicks, meanwhile, had no reaction to the Pacers, who had six players score in doubledigits by the end of the third quarter. Hornacek subbed often – going 13-deep with his rotations – but different combinations just compounded the problems. Even Joakim Noah got some run in the fourth quarter, finishing with three points, three assists and four boards in eight minutes.

The Knicks’ third leading scorer on the season, Courtney Lee, had flu-like symptom and played like it Monday, scoring just eight points in 20 minutes. The one stat the Knicks dominated was bench scoring, 58 to 38.

But really for the Knicks, the highlight was when the game was over. (3.3), rebounds (4.2) and minutes (34.1). But the workload has already taken a toll.

“He’s a tough kid. He’s got ankle sprains and he didn’t miss practices. He’d play through those things. That’s good attributes to have a guy, a guy who goes out there and plays through injuries. This could be a wear-and-tear situation,” Hornacek said. “I think he’s been huge (for us). Obviously KP has taken up that leadership role but Tim’s right up and made some big plays. The two-man game we run there with KP, he’s been pretty good late in games. He has the ability to be outside but he can also drive the ball.”