NBA

Knicks defeat Clippers

The Garden fans chanted “Beat the Heat!’’ in the final seconds Wednesday night, but the Knicks won’t know if they’ll get that chance until late Thursday night.

Miami or Chicago. Chicago or Miami. It will be one or the other in the first round that could start Saturday. With their chances of a sixth seed dashed with Orlando’s 102-95 win over Charlotte, the Knicks moved closer to a South Beach weekend with a 99-93 victory over the Clippers, but haven’t nailed it down entirely.

A win tonight in Charlotte will clinch the No. 7 spot and bring on LeBron James. A loss Thursday night in Charlotte coupled with the Sixers winning in Detroit will drop them to eighth and they would instead get the Bulls.

“The fans know what they want to see,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “Hopefully, they’ll get to see it.’’

Aside from Anthony’s remark, there were indications that’s not exactly whom the Knicks want. Coach Mike Woodson sat Anthony the whole fourth quarter and Amar’e Stoudemire the final eight minutes against the Clippers.

Anthony and Tyson Chandler said they may not play in the regular-season finale because rest is more important than securing seventh seed. Stoudemire said it was up to Woodson on whether he would play, saying his conditioning is OK after playing three games. Resting starting point guard Baron Davis, with all his ailments, also seems a no-brainer.

“I don’ think I’ll play [tonight],’’ Anthony said. “I’m not sure yet. We’ll figure that out.’’

Said Chandler, “I’m sure I won’t play or play very little. It’s more important for me to be fresh. I want to be smart about the situation.’’

Before flying to Charlotte, the Knicks packed for three games. They have intentions of flying straight from Charlotte to their first-round destination, as sources said the odds of them starting on Saturday have increased.

The Bulls are widely believed the better matchup for the Knicks considering Derrick Rose’s balky ankle. The woeful Bobcats (7-58) have motivation considering they are trying to avoid the lowest winning percentage in NBA history. Neverthless, the Sixers, who beat Milwaukee Thursday night, already are in tank mode. They didn’t play Andre Iguodola, Elton Brand, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young. They want no part of the Heat, either. The Knicks are tied with the Sixers at 35-30 but own the tiebreaker.

So it’s down to either South Beach or Chi-town after the Knicks nearly lost to the Clippers, blowing an 18-point lead in their Garden regular-season finale. The victory moved Woodson’s home record to 11-1 and his overall record to 17-6 after getting a giant endorsement from newly minted GM Glen Grunwald.

Chandler said a notion of avoiding the Heat is disrespectful to the top-seeded Bulls.

“Chicago had the best record in the league the last two years,’’ he said. “I don’t know why everyone jumps ahead and says you should dodge Miami and play Chicago. Both teams are 1-2. Pick your poison. We have to believe in ourselves enough to where it doesn’t matter whom we play. It doesn’t matter if we play Chicago or Miami. We’re the New York Knicks and we have to play with pride.’’

As the Clippers chopped at the lead in the fourth quarter, getting it down to one on a Blake Griffin hook shot in the lane with 45 seconds left, Woodson never moved on Anthony or Stoudemire. Anthony scored 17 points 28 minutes. Stoudemire had 10 and 7 in 29 minutes.

Chandler asked back into the game for the final three minutes.

“I guess he gave me rest today,’’ Anthony said.

J.R. Smith hit a 15-footer and hit two foul shots with 23 seconds left to ice it and finish with a team-high 21 points. The game lost some luster when Clippers point gurd Chris Paul sat out with a groin injury.

Before the game, Anthony was unabashed in his optimism for a long playoff run.

“It would mean a lot [getting out of the first round],’’ he said. “I’ve been there once before, went to the Western Conference finals. I’ve had that experience. I don’t see why we don’t have a chance to do that. We’re going after it. I feel very confident about this team. Guys are getting healthy. ’’

In a rare press availability, Grunwald, one day after getting the interim tag removed, said before the game, “I’m hopeful. We’re going to have a tough opponent, whether it’s Indiana, Chicago, Miami. We’re going to have our work cut out for us. I just hope we play to our capabilities and let the chips fall where they may and we see what we need to do if anything to move this team forward.’’

The Knicks were 0-3 against Miami this season, 1-2 vs. the Bulls. None of their three losses to Miami was decided in the final minutes. The Heat won the two games in Miami by scores of 99-89 and 102-88. Mike D’Antoni was head coach for both road games.

“Right now it really doesn’t matter,’’ Anthony said. “Whoever we play. we have to start on the road anyway.’’

marc.berman@nypost.com