NBA

Chandler, Gallinari propel Knicks to a key victory

The grades Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari receive this season go a long way in determining if LeBron James is tempted to sign this summer.

After 35 games, so far, so good.

After both players got off to uneven starts, burgeoning prospects Chandler and Gallinari have been as consistently dangerous as any Knick.

With veteran Al Harrington out with a strained calf and Nate Robinson nearly making a near-fatal, last-minute turnover, Chandler and Gallinari carried the Knicks home to safety in a big 97-93 victory over Larry Brown’s Bobcats last night at a rocking, sold-out Garden.

Chandler — the quiet man having a surging, unsung resurgence — topped the 20-point mark for the fourth time in five games. Chandler finished with a team-high 27 points and made the game-sealing free throws with 12.9 seconds left.

Chandler’s free throws occurred after Robinson’s brain-dead pass was intercepted and converted into a Flip Murray 3-pointer that sliced a seven-point lead to two points, 95-93.

The Knicks (15-20) won their third straight and are 12-6 in their last 18 games, moving them one-half game behind eighth-place Charlotte (15-19) and Toronto. The Knicks tied the season series with Charlotte at 2-2, the first playoff tiebreaker.

“It’s a huge win,” Chandler said. “We want to make the playoffs, and I think we should.”

Gallinari, who finished with 17 points, drained back-to-back 3 pointers late in the final 1:31. The 3-point dagger left Charlotte for dead until Robinson’s seventh turnover and fourth of the fourth quarter.

Stephen Jackson (26 points) appeared to tie the score at 87 with 1:43 left on a 3-pointer over Jared Jeffries, but it was changed to a 2-pointer. The referees then reviewed the shot for nearly three minutes, but the replays proved inconclusive.

That call was major because Gallinari hit a right-wing 3-pointer to make it 90-86. After Raymond Felton missed, Gallinari virtually iced it with a deep 3-pointer from 28 feet straight away, a few feet behind the 3-point stripe. That made it 93-86 with 44.5 seconds left.

A giddy Gallinari deadpanned, when asked about his range, said, “Right now I have no limit. Just kidding. But I’m comfortable with that range. They were expecting me to pass the ball that far away.”

Two weeks ago, Chandler underwent a cortisone shot on his cranky left ankle that had undergone summer arthroscopic surgery and prevented him from having a good start. Chandler calls his ankle “95 percent,” and his rise has directly coincided with the Knicks’ resurgence.

Chandler is their X-factor, even if he doesn’t get Gallinari’s scrutiny or acclaim because of a quiet demeanor and utter lack of showboating.

Chandler is averaging 18 points on 51.6 percent shooting during this 18-game surge after averaging just 11.9 points on 39 percent shooting in the first 17 games.

“It’s just been hard work,” said Chandler of his turnaround. “More extra work and being patient and not getting down on myself.”

The Knicks took control early in the fourth quarter when they struck for a 15-0 run. Robinson capped the run with a 3-pointer and a monster dunk, From the top of the key, Robinson blasted past D.J. Augustin on a crossover for the slam, putting the fans in a tizzy.

“Coach drew up a play to go by anybody,” Robinson said. “It was a beautiful play.”

⇒ Agent Arn Tellem, who represents Tracy McGrady, planned to meet with team president Donnie Walsh after last night’s game to discuss the T-Mac sweepstakes. Tellem, who attended the game with Mets general manager Omar Minaya, said he believes any deal will not come until February.

The Knicks face the Rockets tomorrow in Houston, but McGrady is training in Chicago.

marc.berman@nypost.com