Knicks beat Magic in an ugly game, but do they really win?

ORLANDO, Fla. — Is there something called a "bad win?''

The Knicks and Magic made ignomious NBA history by combining for a league-worst 15 points in the second quarter on Saturday night. Then the Knicks hurt their chances of finishing with the undisputed NBA-worst record — and the top lottery seed — with an 80-79 victory at Amway Center.

The Knicks, who outscored the Magic 8-7 in the second quarter to set their own defensive quarter record, built a 13-point third-quarter lead. They blew all of it, but hung on with Tim Hardaway's Jr.'s electric play in the final stages to improve to 16-64.

With the Timberwolves, who entered Saturday with a 16-63 record, in full tank mode and playing in Golden State later that night, the chances of the two clubs being tied for the worst record was very real.

"I don't believe in trying to lose,'' Knicks coach Derek Fisher said.

If the Knicks and Timberwolves are tied after Wednesday's season finale, they would basically split the lottery odds of the top two seeds. A coin flip would determine who gets the extra ping-pong ball, and more importantly, the designation of No. 1 seed. The No. 1 seed can't fall further than fourth. The second seed can fall to fifth.

If the teams finish tied, each would roughly have a 23 percent chance of winning the lottery. An undisputed No. 1 seed has a 25 percent chance.

The Knicks play in Atlanta on Monday and face Detroit at home on Wednesday to finish out. Minnesota finishes with home games against the Pelicans and Thunder, two teams fighting for the final Western Conference playoff seed.

Knicks center Cole Aldrich finished with a career-high 19 points and 14 rebounds. … Hardaway finished with 13 points, shot 4 of 13, but scored six points in the final 1:34, including the game-sealing 3-pointer with 12.7 seconds left that broke a 77-77 tie. Hardaway and his mates celebrated as if they had won something, but it probably wouldn't seem that way to many of their fans, who recently have been rooting for the top seed.

Tobias Harris' chances of becoming a Knick this summer decreased with Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan's statement this week he may match any offer to retain the free-agent small forward and Long Island native.

Hennigan almost never speaks to the media, but according to a tape of a conference call with season-ticketholders, Hennigan said he "intends'' to keep Harris "no matter what.''Harris plays roughly the same position as Carmelo Anthony, but is just 22.

Hennigan already offered Harris, who finished with 15 points Saturday, a contract extension of four years, $36 million that he turned down in October. The Post has reported if the Dix Hills, L.I., native leaves Orlando, the Knicks would be his top choice. But as a restricted free agent, Hennigan can match any offer.

"I take it as a positive sign,'' Harris told The Orlando Sentinel. "You have to take it as a positive.''

If Hennigan had stated his intentions to the media, it would seem simply a way to scare off fellow GMs. But because of the setting in which he made the remark, he didn't believe it would go public, according to a source.