Tim Hardaway Jr. is fast becoming the Knicks’ reliable second option to Kristaps Porzingis, and Wednesday he was the first.
For the third time in eight days at the Garden, the Knicks rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to squeak out victory as Hardaway grabbed the hero’s role.
The $71 million man grabbed a loose-ball rebound, then sank a 3-pointer over Joe Ingles to lift the Knicks to a four-point bulge with 32.5 seconds left, as they hung on for a 106-101 victory over the Jazz.
A surging Hardaway scored 26 points and Porzingis added 22 — their 1-2 punch that’s so far carried the Knicks to a shocking 8-6 start.
“It was great, awesome, the moment you live for,’’ Hardaway said. “You live and dream for it as a kid coming into a grand stadium like this and making game-winners and playing defense and giving the fans what they want.’’
After the bucket, Courtney Lee jumped on his back and the two did a shimmy.
“That started in Atlanta, trying to carry it here,’’ said Hardaway, who has averaged 21 points in the past 11 games after a rough start. “It makes me feel good, playing free and loose.”
The victory came two nights after the Knicks blew a 23-point lead to the Cavaliers at the Garden.
“What a way to get over that game than with a win today,’’ said Lee, who added 19 points.
The Knicks rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to spoil the Garden debut of Utah rookie guard Donovan Mitchell, a Westchester product who scored 17 points in the first half but finished with just 19.
Hardaway’s late-game, versatile shot-making will be a key to take the pressure off Porzingis. Hardaway, who shot 7-of-15 from the field, scored 14 in the fourth quarter and made four free throws in the final seconds to seal it. He also had six assists and six rebounds.
On the key 3-pointer, Hardaway initially wanted to drive the ball but saw Ricky Rubio by the rim.
“They were playing me for my drive,’’ Hardaway said. “I knew if I faked like I was [going] to drive, Ingles would fall back. I just shot it with confidence and thankfully it went in.’’
Porzingis didn’t have an explosive night, but hit a big 3-pointer down the stretch to key the comeback. Porzingis was 8-of-19 — after a 1-of-6 start — and collected eight rebounds.
“The more we involve other guys and the better everybody feels and the more rhythm it takes pressure off,’’ Porzingis said. “Tim, Courtney, Enes [Kanter] when he gets going. We want to get guys involved as much as we can.’’
The Knicks rallied to within 82-77 after three. In the final seconds of the third, Hardaway ripped down a rebound, pushed the pace and fed a cutting Kyle O’Quinn for a dunk.
The Knicks took their first lead since the first period with four minutes left after Lee grabbed the rebound and fed a sprinting Hardaway, who blazed in for a layup and a 94-93 advantage.
“Tim’s doing a great job — we need his activity, cutting,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said. “He’s one of the guys who can attack the basket for us. He’s fast and gets out on the break. The one play Courtney threw it ahead to him, he took two dribbles from half-court and got to the basket.”
With Porzingis on the bench, the Knicks rallied to start the fourth. Rookie Frank Ntilikina, who had a nice quarter, drained two straight mid-range jumpers. The score was knotted after O’Quinn’s offensive rebound led to a driving shot by Doug McDermott that was called goaltending. It tied the score at 91 with 6:42 left.
The first half became the Mitchell show as Utah led 60-50. The former Louisville point guard, whom the Knicks seriously considered taking with the eighth pick in the draft, started strong but petered out.
In the opening half, Utah made 10-of-18 3-pointers — Jonas Jerebko sinking a trio and Rodney Hood (30 points) and Ingles bagging a pair. The Knicks defense finally tightened.
“It’s not a challenged shot if you’re 4 feet away with a hand up,’’ Hornacek said. “It doesn’t do anything to a shooter. We put more pressure on them in the second half. The first half we reacted to what they were doing.’’
“We’re fighting through fatigue, we’re fighting through adversity,’’ Hardaway said.