The Knicks need the Bucks to win so they don’t play the Bucks

The Knicks need the Bucks to care.

It’s not enough for the Knicks to win their final two games of the season, including Saturday afternoon against the Hornets.

The Knicks need the Bucks to beat the Heat on Saturday evening. They need it because it’s the most feasible avenue to obtaining the fourth seed and hosting the Hawks in the opening round.

If not, New York is likely headed to the sixth spot and a first round that starts on the road against either Brooklyn or Milwaukee.

“We definitely want that fourth seed,” RJ Barrett said. “We definitely want that home-court advantage.”

If the Bucks don’t beat the Heat, the Knicks would have to rely on the tanking Pistons to win their season finale on Sunday against Miami. That’s not going to happen. The Knicks could also slot into the fifth seed for a first round against Miami if Atlanta loses Sunday to the last-place Rockets (also not going to happen).

The Bucks, on the other hand, are a legit contender and could easily pull out a win against Miami at full strength. But here’s the problem: Milwaukee may not be so motivated.

If the Bucks lose to Miami, they will probably host the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs. That’s a desirable matchup for coach Mike Budenholzer. If they beat Miami, they will probably face the Heat in the first round. That’s a tougher matchup against the defending East champs.

The word ‘probably’ is inserted into the above paragraph because the Bucks still have a chance to rise from the third-seed to the second-seed. But that requires a defeat from the Nets, who are again at full strength and closing their season against the lottery-bound Bulls and lottery-bound Cavaliers. So it’s unlikely.

Either way, the Bucks will know if there’s an opening for the second-seed by the time they tipoff against Miami at 8 p.m. on Saturday (the Nets host Chicago at 1 p.m.).

After Thursday’s win over the Pacers, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he was tired but will be recharged before the Miami game.

“I feel tired. I’m not going to lie. I feel tired. But at the end of the day, this is the end of the season. You’re going to get tired,” said Antetokounmpo, who has missed 10 games this season. “I’m going to get some rest, feel better, and then when I feel better, I can play better.”

With the Heat game in the middle of a stretch of three games in four days, it’ll be interesting to see how Milwaukee approaches Saturday night.

The Knicks will be monitoring the scoreboard.

“People who say they don’t watch, they’re liars,” Julius Randle said.