Mikal Bridges didn’t need to break a sweat Sunday, so his teammate found it funny that he was wrapped in a towel postgame.

“You actually took a shower?” Cam Payne said in the locker room.

Bridges, the iron man of the NBA, took the loophole to maintain his streak. He logged just six seconds in Sunday’s regular-season finale before purposefully fouling a Nets player, darting to the bench for the remainder of Sunday’s 113–105 win over the tanking Nets at Barclays Center.

The cameo was planned and short because Bridges wanted the bench to get an opportunity.

“(The Knicks) just asked to see what I wanted to do, pretty much. It’s really for young guys. Because I could play a quarter, play a half. But that would take away from young guys — [rookies Pacôme Dadiet and Kevin McCullar Jr.] — for their minutes to come up.

“Landry [Shamet] coming out there, playing more. So it’s more just taking minutes away from them versus — I took a lot of minutes all 81 prior, so just give them guys a chance, give them a chance to play.”

It represented Bridges’ 556th consecutive game played — almost double the number of No. 2 Harrison Barnes, whose streak hit 304 on Sunday.

Tom Thibodeau said Bridges “earned the right” to check out after checking the attendance box.

“A tribute to him, he’s worked hard to put himself in that position,” the Knicks coach said. “He should be commended for [the streak].”

It was at least the third time Bridges was subbed out quickly to keep the streak intact. Coincidentally, all three games were at Barclays Center.

Last season, as a member of the Nets, he played only 12 minutes while other starters rested in a December game against the Bucks. In Brooklyn’s season finale two years ago, Bridges was removed after just four seconds of a loss to the 76ers.

Then on Sunday, he was the only Knicks regular starter available in a game that was meaningless to both sides.

“I’m just trying to be available. Just for my team — trying to win as many games as possible and be out there for my team and I think we have a better chance [if I’m playing],” Bridges said. “So just be out there as much as possible.”

Against the Nets (26-56), the Knicks didn’t need much from Bridges — or inactive players Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks (51-31), who secured the franchise’s most wins since 2013, operated like it was a preseason affair. PJ Tucker, Miles McBride, Payne and Precious Achiuwa started, with rookies Dadiet, Tyler Kolek and McCullar playing significant minutes.

Shamet, who replaced Bridges after six seconds, led all scorers with 29 points.

“The way he finished the season was terrific,” Thibodeau said of Shamet. “He just makes really good basketball plays. He knows how to space the floor, how to move without the ball, he’s good in transition. Knows how to play off people. He doesn’t force things. When he’s open he shoots and when he’s guarded he makes the right play. I think that goes a long way. He has the ability to think on his feet and he’s a great competitor.”

The resting strategy should’ve been expected — most NBA teams take that route these days — but somewhat surprising because Thibodeau animatedly expressed his desire to establish a rhythm heading into the playoffs.

“We got to get it fixed fast,” the coach said after New York blew a 23-point lead to the Cavaliers on Friday, two days before the Knicks chose rest over rhythm against the Nets.

Conversely, the Pistons, who come to MSG for Game 1 at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, played most of their starters — albeit limited minutes — in their season finale Sunday, a 140-133 loss to the Bucks.

Thibodeau said there were health concerns and, with multiple practices scheduled before the playoffs start, there’s theoretically time to address the issues of a disappointing end to the regular season.

So the priorities Sunday were maintaining health and Bridges’ streak.

“It’s a compilation of things going into this game,” the coach said. “Some guys are banged up a little bit so you don’t want to risk getting hit in an area that could set them back further. That’s probably the biggest thing. Then other guys are, they’ve done a good job to put themselves in position where we have this week to prepare. So whatever we feel in talking to the medical staff, their input is huge in this as well, what’s the best thing for our team and that’s what we’re going to put in the forefront.”