Why the Knicks’ draft-lottery ‘loss’ to the Mavericks might help them in the long run

Technically, the Knicks lost Tuesday night.

They had a chance — a 20.2 percent chance at that — to wind up with the Mavericks’ 2023 first-round pick, and the ping-pong balls didn’t bounce their way.

As part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, they owned the rights to Dallas’ first-round pick, which would convey this year only if it was outside of the top 10.

It wound up at No. 10, meaning the Knicks’ rights to the pick now carry over into next year — as long as it isn’t in the top 10 again.