INDIANAPOLIS — Across the past seven games, Kevin Knox has come on offensively, even if his free-throw shooting is a puzzling mess.
Knox regained his starting slot the past four games, so it’s a good time to face Phoenix’s rookie small forward, Mikal Bridges, who also is starting for the moribund Suns and making a name for himself on the defensive end.
Knox faces Bridges for the first time Monday, when the league-worst Suns visit the Garden. Bridges has started 16 of the Suns’ 30 games, averaging 7.6 points on 41 percent shooting — 33.3 percent from 3-point land.
Known as a “3-and-D” player coming out of Villanova, Bridges is averaging 1.3 steals — top five among rookies — and shooting 84.8 percent from the free-throw line, where Knox is struggling.
Knox beat out both Bridges — Mikal and Miles — in the final days leading into the draft, winning the nod off his spectacular group workout where he outplayed Miles Bridges. The Knicks were disappointed Mikal Bridges, who won two NCAA titles, wasn’t willing to showcase himself in a group workout and instead worked out solo for them.
As has been reported, Knicks coach David Fizdale pushed hard late for Knox because of the challenge of developing his greater upside. Bridges, 22, was one of the oldest players in the draft while Knox was second-youngest.
“That’s my guy,” Knox told The Post. “I talked to him a lot through the draft process, the combine, week of the draft. It will be really cool to go against him. I’ve seen highlights. He’s really good defensively.”
Though his on-ball defense is suspect, Knox’s 3-point shot is falling. Even on an off night, he piled up 15 points. He was 6-of-15 from the field — 3-of-9 on 3-pointers — and committed three turnovers. In the past seven games, Knox is third among rookies in averaging 16.6 points, but his shooting percentage still is a middling 36.6 percent.
“I’m putting up extra shots, getting good looks,” Knox said of his 3-point shooting percentage standing at a healthy 36 percent. “My ability getting more aggressive lately, getting to the rim, has opened up that 3-point shot. I got to keep mixing both of them.’’
However, Knox was 0-for-2 from the free-throw line Sunday, two days after his two late missed free throws against Charlotte could have turned costly. He’s shooting just 64 percent from the line.“I need to focus on getting to the free-throw line and knocking them down in practice and getting them in the game,” Knox said. “I got no idea [why I’m missing them]. I’m going to watch the film and I’m going to fix it. I’m too good a shooter to shoot that bad at the free-throw line.’’
Knox is just fortunate Charlotte’s Kemba Walker missed his buzzer-beating runner after Knox bricked the free throws when the Knicks were up 2.
“I’m glad,” Knox said. “I was chasing him. I was going to make sure he got no 3-point shot off because it would’ve been a hard two days for me. Those two free throws were critical.”