The Knicks finished their preseason Friday with a Garden loss to the Nets, a 3-2 record, Kevin Knox still shaky, Tim Hardaway Jr. achy and no official answer on who will start at point guard on opening night.

Things didn’t clear up in the now four-man point-guard derby as coach David Fizdale would have liked, but he said Knox will start at small forward despite shooting 32.7 percent in the preseason because “he’s got to go through this.’’

Fizdale added nothing “is permanent’’ if Knox continues to struggle and the coach had a brutal assessment of the rookie’s past three games — all at the Garden, including Friday’s 113-107 loss to the Nets.

Hardaway left late in the third quarter and was diagnosed with a sprained left wrist after taking a charge. X-rays were negative.

“I’m playing no matter what,’’ Hardaway said of opening night, Wednesday against the Hawks.

Fizdale said at the start of training camp players would earn their starting job, but the coach admitted a special case is being made for their prized 6-foot-9 lottery pick.

“No, he’s been up and down,’’ Fizdale said when asked if Knox had earned the starting job. “I think he’s shown the ability to start in the first two games with the double-doubles. And the last three stunk. But for that position and what we’re trying to grow there, I think he’s what we want to put in that spot and just let him go through the hell of it and get beat up and have some success, and all of that stuff.

“But it’s not permanent, and if it’s something where a guy continues to struggle it’s on me to help and sometimes shifting the lineup helps guys. But they all know that it’s going to be all year.’’

Frank Ntilikina, the Knicks’ 2017 lottery pick, performed the best out of the point guards during the preseason and filled up the boxscore Friday with nine points, five assists and four rebounds. He was active on defense, even guarding the 4-man on switches. But Fizdale has hinted he likes Ntilikina coming off the bench, off the ball and playing multiple positions.

“I thought he had another solid performance — you see how I’m using him now, trying to use all of his gifts,’’ Fizdale said.

With Knox fading as the preseason wore on, it would take a bold move for Fizdale to start Trey Burke, Ntilikina and Hardaway in a three-guard set and making Knox the sixth man.

Knox started all five preseason games at small forward, but was plagued by foul trouble and scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting with five fouls and two turnovers on Friday. Knox finished the preseason 16-for-49.

“I’m learning from it,’’ Knox said. “I needed this. I’m glad. This is why NBA put in preseason for — guys like me. See what they can work on, see what they have to get in the gym to get better at and watch a lot of film.’’

As for the point-guard battle, Emmanuel Mudiay didn’t get in until 8:12 remained in the game Friday. That could be an indicator Mudiay won’t win the starting job when the Knicks open the regular season, though he was on the court when they made a fourth-quarter comeback.

Ron Baker got the opportunity to start at point guard Friday and looked fine with his defensive tenacity, but Fizdale went back to Burke to open the second half. Burke hit a 55-foot buzzer-beater from halfcourt to close the first quarter. He posted nine points and three assists in 20 minutes.

“We’re going to talk about it more and give a hard evaluation the next day or two, looking at the combination of guys and analytical stuff,’’ Fizdale said. “Either way it goes I feel real comfortable putting them all out there.’’

The Knicks ended their preseason by attempting to come back from 21 points down in the second half. The rally was spearheaded by the 3-point shooting of center Luke Kornet, who drilled three consecutive treys in the fourth quarter. He helped get the Knicks within five points , but was later called for a phantom foul with 1:00 left on a driving D’Angelo Russell, who had 18 points. Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn with 19 points and Joe Harris added 16.

Enes Kanter rested his iced-up knees and rookie Mitchell Robinson started. Robinson recorded seven points with three assists and two blocks and he finally took a mid-range jump shot. It was a blooper moment as Robinson’s 15-footer sailed wide right by several feet. Robinson hadn’t taken a long-range shot in summer league or previously during the preseason.

Fizdale said he doesn’t want his announcement of the starting lineup to be treated “as D-Day” by the players.

“Whoever starts on opening night doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to start the whole season,’’ Fizdale said. “So I’m not really looking at that as D-Day when it comes to our starters.’’