NBA

Raymond Felton takes benching in stride

Raymond Felton broke his silence but not his slump.

Coach Mike Woodson finally made a stand and benched the struggling Felton for the entire fourth quarter Wednesday against Portland for the first time in his Knicks career.

Woodson said he didn’t want to remove Pablo Prigioni because he was “playing well.’’

Felton didn’t disagree with the demotion after having a quiet seven-point night after being the goat in Milwaukee.

“Pablo was playing well,’’ Felton said after the Knicks lost 94-90 to the Trail Blazers at the Garden, their third consecutive defeat. “What was the point of me going back in the game? He was playing great, the team was flowing. That’s why you have a team with three, four point guards.’’

Felton was beaten twice by Brandon Knight in the final 48 seconds in the Knicks’ 101-98 loss to the Bucks Monday night, including on the final 3-point shot with 1.4 seconds left. Since that game, he has been the target of criticism.

“That’s what happens when you’re a point guard,’’ Felton said. “Things are going to get pointed your way. I can’t care less what those people say or think. I’m fighting for my team, giving it my all everyday. I’m human. I make mistakes and have bad games. I’m not the only one in this league who has bad games. Seems like it’s getting magnified because we’re having a losing season and we’re not playing well.

“You got to point it at somebody. It’s pointed at me but I’m a strong-minded person.’’

On the Knight play Monday, Felton he said hit a “tough shot.’’

“Guys hit game-winners,’’ Felton said. “I’ve hit game-winners in people’s faces. You hate it. It sucks. It’s a bad feeling when it happens.’’