By winning consecutive games at the end of the regular season, the New York Knicks have hurt their odds in the NBA draft lottery.

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The 112-108 victory against the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks on Monday pushed the Knicks to 17-64 and out of a tie for the worst record in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

New York now sit alone in 29th place, which allows them a 19.9 per cent chance of receiving the top selection, compared to 25 per cent for the team with the worst record.

“I’m sure people are upset with us,” Knicks coach Derek Fisher said.

“But I don’t think you can ever go out there and basically try and not play your best. Those two things don’t go together.”

New York hasn’t had a lottery selection since 2009, when they drafted eighth overall. 

Top picks are coveted because they theoretically improve teams’ chances of coming away with a potential star and franchise player.

“That has no bearing on these guys’ lives and their careers and their livelihoods – who we pick next year,” Fisher said.

“This is about them, and they went out and played that way.”

The Knicks’ odds would drop further if they win their final game of against Detroit on Wednesday and Philadelphia lose to Miami, resulting in New York and the 76ers splitting their lottery combinations.

“As players, we’re trying to go out there and win the last games that we have,” New York forward Jason Smith said. “We have one game left, and we’re only thinking about Wednesday.”