NBA

Knicks after more than just division

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The streaking Knicks, their magic number at one, can capture their first Atlantic Division crown since 1993-94 tonight at the Garden against the hapless Wizards.

There will be no champagne flowing, however, just Powerade and talk about the division title being the first step to the ultimate prize of breaking the 40-year championship drought.

Coach Mike Woodson stepped up the title talk yesterday on his weekly radio show on WEPN Radio, saying: “It’s desperate times for our team to win and win now. That’s how it should be. We’re in desperate times right now to try to win an NBA title, absolutely. … The big picture is trying to bring a title to New York. This is just one step.’’

With a Knicks victory tonight or a Nets loss to the Sixers, the 2012-13 Atlantic banner will join eight others near the Garden’s pinwheeled ceiling. Perhaps the first NBA title banner in 40 years will go up, too.

The Knicks (50-26) will put their dirty-dozen winning streak on the line as they go for a lucky 13, coming off Sunday’s 125-120 shootout win in Oklahoma City. The thrilling victory was widely viewed as validating them as serious title contenders.

“We’re a great team coming all together at the right time, with great confidence going into the playoffs,’’ J.R. Smith said.

They have beaten San Antonio twice, beaten Miami three of four times, beaten Oklahoma City on the road and lost by one point to the Thunder at the Garden without Carmelo Anthony. It’s a pretty impressive resume — a squad that has overcome a battery of injuries because of unprecedented depth.

“It tells me our guys are committed to winning,’’ Woodson said of the win over the Thunder. “You don’t win 12 in a row if they’re not committed.”

It is the third-longest winning streak in franchise history, and the longest since 1993-94. No longer is it unfathomable for them to set the longest winning streak in franchise history by running the table in their final six games. The streak record is 18 set by the 1969-70 NBA champions. With a win over Washington, they would try to tie their second-longest streak in Chicago on Thursday.

During the streak, they’ve beaten both NBA finalists — Oklahoma City and Miami, which played without LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. But it might not have mattered with the way Anthony rolled a 50 in Miami.

When Anthony, after outdueling Kevin Durant, stepped off the Oklahoma City court Sunday, he told a national TV audience: “Everybody knows New York basketball has been down for a long time and we’re back where we’re supposed to be at.’’

Later in the locker room, Anthony added: “We were always convinced that we were one of the top teams out there.’’

Anthony, who yesterday was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in a landslide, returned from his knee getting drained for the streak’s second game and has averaged 32.7 points per game on 50 percent shooting since then. During his four-game binge, he has averaged 41.8 points on 61 percent shooting. The fluid buildup in his knee that plagued him in February and half of March is a distant memory.

“I’m healthy,’’ Anthony said. “That’s the biggest part. We saw the difference the first two months, then to February and now you can see the difference.’’

Anthony is in a virtual tie with Kevin Durant for his first scoring title. Both are at 28.4 points per game, but Anthony technically leads by two-hundreths of a point. Durant has won three straight crowns.

“I try not to think about that,’’ Anthony said of the scoring title. “I just go out there and try to play ball.’’

It’s not the barrage of points that has been most impressive with Anthony of late, it is the efficiency, making the right decisions when doubled and aiding Smith, who is amid a breakout season. Anthony had no turnovers in Oklahoma City.

“When your superstar plays at a high level, it can’t help but have guys who play around him play much better,’’ Woodson said. “Everyone benefits from Melo’s play. It’s been beautiful to watch. It’s been awesome to watch.’’

So will winning a division for the first time in 19 years and supplanting the five-time defending champion Celtics. The second seed in the East isn’t far behind, as the Knicks lead the Pacers by 2 1/2 games.

“That was our No. 1 goal coming into the season: to win the division,’’ center Tyson Chandler said. “But it all comes down to the playoffs and right now we’re playing our best basketball.’’