Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina fail Knicks’ point-guard test

It was a rough night for the Knicks point guards Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina trying to keep pace with Atlanta’s Trae Young. Both got into foul trouble and were essentially ineffective in the Knicks’ 100-96 preseason loss to the Hawks at the Garden.

The point-guard derby could have been won by the guy who got the night off — Elfrid Payton.

Smith, in his preseason debut after missing the first two games with a back strain, looked out of sync after picking up two fouls in the opening 2:23 and heading to the bench. A rusty Smith finished with four points on 1 of 5 shooting and was credited with three turnovers and three assists.

Ntilikina came in for Smith and picked up a quick two fouls while trying to guard Young but was kept in the game. It was that kind of evening. Ntilikina, despite a key block on Young late and an interception of an inbounds pass with 25 seconds left, registered just two points on 1 of 4 shooting.

In the first half, Smith bricked a long jumper, lost the ball at the key for a turnover that resulted in fast-break points for Atlanta and was called for traveling. He was scoreless in 10 first-half minutes.

Despite a reputedly improved jumper, Smith didn’t look sharp in the second half either. He got doubled on a drive and showed little poise under pressure, getting caught in the air and throwing it into Young’s arms.

After missing his first four shots, Smith finally hit his first bucket with 4:55 left — a 20-footer to tie the score at 91. But then he got intercepted on the next possession by De’Andre Bembry, trying to feed the low post.

Fizdale said before the game Ntilikina would play “significant minutes’’ in a backup role — a hint coach David Fizdale was willing to give Payton the night off. The theory is Fizdale knows what he has in Payton, the pure playmaker and stout defender who started the first two preseason games.

The Knicks have one more preseason game Friday versus Zion Williamson’s Pelicans and they need to find out what Smith and Ntilikina can deliver in their third seasons.

During spots rookie RJ Barrett manned the point, but his shooting was erratic. Barrett couldn’t hit an outside shot but got to the basket easily. Nevertheless, he missed too many easy shots around the rim and finished 4 of 14 for 12 points.

Newly signed forward Julius Randle finished with 20 points but missed a game-tying free throw with 19.2 seconds left.

Ntilikina’s contract option for his fourth year has an Oct. 31 deadline. Smith’s option faces a similar deadline but it would seem difficult for Knicks brass to pass on executing it, considering he was the key piece of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Was Ntilkina also being showcased? There have been suggestions in Detroit the Pistons may have some interest. On hand Wednesday at the Garden was Pistons executive Malik Rose, a former Knick. The Post reported last season the Pistons asked about Damyean Dotson, who did not play Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, TNT’s Stan Van Gundy said he figured Smith would wind up as the starter. It doesn’t look that way now.

“My guess is they give Dennis Smith first shot at it,’’ Van Gundy said. “They traded for him he’s still on a rookie contract. He’s got explosiveness. If he can improve his decision-making and shooting …’’

It marked the first time since they became teammates that Ntilikina and Smith were both active for the same game. That says a lot about their injury-prone histories.

The young Hawks were boosted by the league’s oldest player, 42-year-old Vince Carter, who dumped in four deep 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 14 at intermission as the Hawks led 61-54. Carter also hit a key 3-pointer in the final minute to finish with 17 points.

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