MIAMI — Tim Hardaway Jr. is well on pace for a career season. As the No. 1 option for the first time in his career, the Knicks’ 26-year-old shooting guard is averaging 27 points on 41.8 percent shooting through four games.
Nevertheless, he wishes the wins had risen along with his scoring. After a 1-3 start, the Knicks face the Heat on Wednesday in a homecoming of sorts for Hardaway, who grew up here as his father starred for the franchise.
All three of the Knicks’ losses have come down to the final 1:30 — two on the last possession.
“It’s very important to get us over the hump,’’ Hardaway said. “We know we’re right there with a bunch of teams, but at the same time we have to focus on ourselves and close out these games that can be wins.”
A Hardaway 3-pointer tied the score in Milwaukee Monday with 3:26 left, but the Bucks then ran away with the game.
“We move on, learn from it,’’ Hardaway said. “We can’t keep on saying it, but we have to.’’
With Kristaps Porzingis and Kevin Knox out, Hardaway has no choice but to take on the scoring load.
“I’m trying to do what I can do to will my team to try to win ballgames,’’ Hardaway said. “I have to be aggressive and be the guy who forces the issue under these circumstances.’’
He calls AmericanAirlines Arena, the Heat’s home, the building “my father helped build.’’
“It’s special always, though I’ve never had a good game here throughout the years,’’ Hardaway said.
Despite his offensive rampage, Hardaway has been the defender on baskets that have cost the Knicks two games — Caris LeVert’s game-winning last-second drive for the Nets and Boston’s Jayson Tatum’s late mid-range game-sealing jumper.
But without Hardaway, the Knicks would be getting blown out nightly. His father has attended all the games in New York since he’s no longer a Pistons assistant coach after the Stan Van Gundy regime ended.
“It’s been great. The last time he was able to do that was when I was at college and he was a Heat scout,’’ Hardaway said. “He’s watched some of my games, which he hasn’t been able to do. It has helped me out a lot confidence-wise. I like it. Another reason to go out there and play hard for the people who paved the way for me.”
PG Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle sprain) went through practice and could make his season debut Wednesday. … Courtney Lee joined the team in Miami after undergoing tests for his mysterious neck injury that has kept him out of the preseason and regular season.
David Fizdale on Dwyane Wade finishing his career in Miami: “It’s where he should be. He’ll have a statue out there.’’
