Tyler Kolek gets backup point guard nod in Knicks blowout victory

The Knicks’ pecking order at backup point guard is fluid.It was Tyler Kolek, not Jose Alvarado, who was the first point guard off the bench to replace Jalen Brunson during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 135-105 rout of the Bulls on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.Kolek played six minutes in that second quarter as the Knicks increased their lead from 22 points to 29.And Kolek — not Alvarado — returned in the third quarter as well.

Alvarado did not play until garbage time in the fourth quarter.Kolek filled in well when Alvarado missed four games due to a sprained ankle.But coach Mike Brown, before Alvarado returned Monday against the Nets, said that he would remain the backup point guard and not be punished in the rotation for being injured.Now, though, the pendulum has swung back to Kolek.“I said this before, every position coming off the bench is a competition, all the time,” Brown said.

“Nobody’s minutes are set in stone.… Jose had the first opportunity in our last game.

And then I gave Tyler an opportunity in the second half [against the Nets] and Tyler played well.So I’m gonna go with Tyler.

And if I think I need to make a change because Tyler’s not getting it done in my eyes, then I’ll go back to Jose.”Kolek did not score — and did not attempt a shot — Wednesday but had five assists and no turnovers.Alvarado missed all four shots he took and had two turnovers.“Both those guys helped us win at a high level [last year],” Brown said.

“Tyler helped us win the NBA Cup against San Antonio in Vegas.And Jose helped us win the Finals.

So either one of those guys, we feel, can help us in a lot of good ways at any time so they just have to both stay ready.”A 30-point shellacking paved the way for Dalton Knecht to make his Knicks debut.With Josh Hart missing Wednesday’s game due to right ankle soreness, Knecht was called up from the Westchester Knicks and recorded 10 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes against th...