By MARC BERMAN

ORLANDO – Mike Bibby walked through the Knicks’ locker room before Friday night’s game vs. the Hawks. He was seeking out Jerome James, trying to give him some comp tickets.

It’s a darn shame Bibby was just a visitor. Later in the evening, the Knicks allowed Bibby to steal the victory for the Hawks, 99-93, at Philips Arena.

Isiah’s Knicks hit the big “4-0’’ – 40 losses – just before the calendar turned to March. The Knicks went ice cold down the stretch, hitting a 1 for 11 funk. The Hawks weren’t much better but Atlanta’s new point guard, whom Thomas coveted before the trade deadline, knew what it took to win.

Bibby made three big plays on three consecutive possessions to lift his new club to victory. Yes, Knicks senior VP Glen Grunwald spoke to Sacramento about Bibby, not just Ron Artest. The Knicks know they need a point guard as the organization has decided to move on without Stephon Marbury, who is expected to be either traded or bought out.

When asked if he’s seen this movie before, Jamal Crawford cracked, “Yeah, and I know the ending, unfortunately.’’

Bibby finished with 11 points and 10 assists. Bibby’s alley-oop feed to Josh Smith with 1:12 left gave the Hawks the lead for good at 92-91. Bibby stepped up on defense, drawing a controversial charge on Jamal Crawford. Then Bibby buried a 20-footer on the ensuing possession for a 3-point lead with 35.6 seconds left.

Bibby knows how to pull out games, having played on some winners in Sacramento. The Knicks, who play in Orlando tonight against the great Dwight Howard, don’t know how to win. Team Titanic II fell to a despicable 18-40. It left Thomas in a rotten mood afterward, partly because of the Crawford charge. But it’s amazing at 18-40, there is still speculation Thomas may be around next season.

Thomas abruptly cut off the postgame interview after one minute. It was the second time yesterday Thomas curtailed his interview session with beat writers.

“We had tough calls,’’ Thomas said. “The offensive foul Jamal got on Bibby was a tough one.’’

The loss ruined Zach Randolph’s monster night – 29 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists. Randolph was on pace for a 20-20 – the last Knick to do so was Clarence Weatherspoon. Randolph’s jump hook put Knicks in front 91-90 with 2:51 left – their last points until 6 seconds left.

Even with the Knicks’ offense unable to put the ball into the ocean, Thomas still refused to reinsert Eddy Curry. Thomas has no use for Curry when David Lee rebounds the ball like last night – 14 last night in 29 minutes. Lee’s outlet passes ignites their fastbreak.

Curry finished with 9 points and 2 boards in 20:42, his season an absolute wreck. It’s incredible how Thomas no longer trusts Curry in the fourth quarter. “Matchups,’’ Thomas said bluntly when asked why Curry sat.

Neither team could buy a basket in the fourth. Atlanta outscored the Knicks 18-15 in the final session. The killer came on Crawford’s charge. Crawford finished with 21 points and 8 assists but he also shot just 7 of 24 – 2 of 7 from 3-pont lane. Crawford was 0 for 5 in the fourth quarter. The Knicks live and die now with Crawford’s shotmaking now that Curry has been removed from the big picture.

“I don’t want to get in trouble, the call was made, leave it at that,’’ Crawford said of his offensive foul in which Bibby was clearly still moving his feet.

The Knicks flew into Orlando and face the powerhouse Magic, who are third in the East behind Boston and Detroit. The Howard vs. Curry matchup could turn ugly. Remember when last season some in the Knicks locker room thought Curry should be an All-Star alongside Howard.

Howard electrified All-Star Weekend two weeks ago with his Superman dunk when he leapt to the New Orleans Arena ceiling and threw it down through the hoop without touching the cylinder.

Crawford won’t even call it a dunk. “Impressive, definitely saw, that but it wasn’t a dunk,’’ Crawford said.

“Those guys are definitely playing well,’’ Crawford added. “We’ll have our hands full.’’