AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Say it ain’t so, Pablo.

Knicks backup point guard Pablo Prigioni suffered a sprained right ankle late in the second quarter of the Knicks’ 98-95 loss Wednesday to the Pistons after stepping on the foot of Brandon Jennings and his availability for the back-to-back against Brooklyn and Atlanta on Friday and Saturday is very much in doubt.

Prigioni crumpled to the court and stayed down for more than a minute. He limped badly off the court, to the locker room, helped by trainer Roger Hinds. X-rays were negative, but

Prigioni didn’t return.

“Not too bad,’’ Prigioni said as he limped to the bus after the game. “Let’s see tomorrow.’’

Prigioni said he wouldn’t rule out playing against Brooklyn, but it seemed highly unlikely. The Knicks can’t afford to lose Prigioni for any length as starting point guard Jose Calderon is already out another couple of weeks with a calf strain, leaving inexperienced Shane Larkin as their lone healthy point guard. Larkin committed a key turnover with 38 seconds left to mute the Knicks’ comeback.

Nevertheless, the Knicks committed just nine turnovers and notched 25 assists, leaving Derek Fisher hopeful. Because the triangle uses a two-guard set, Fisher said he thinks the Knicks can survive having only one true point guard on the roster. Iman Shumpert was forced into a lot of point guard duty.

“I’ve played point guard my whole life,’’ Shumpert said.

Amar’e Stoudemire was back on the bench to start, giving Jason Smith his first start at the revolving power-forward position, alongside Samuel Dalembert. Smith scored 17 points — all in the first half, as his mid-range jumper was on fire. He finished 7-of-11.

Fisher was matching up with Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy’s decision to put his big frontcourt together for the first time in Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith, who defended Carmelo Anthony and was a pitiful 2-of-17 himself.

The Anthony-Smith-Dalembert frontline was expected to be the starting frontcourt entering the season opener. The Knicks have now used three different starting power forwards in five games.

But Fisher is more concerned with having Stoudemire (15 points after a slow start) back with the second unit.

Fisher used Quincy Acy for 13:42 after he chose to rest him in the Wizards’ loss. Acy is battling a strained wrist, but his inflammation went down.

Van Gundy said Tim Hardaway Sr. has been helpful in scouting the Knicks with his son on the club. But Tim Hardaway Jr. erupted for a season-high 20 points (4-of-7 from 3-point land) in 26:43.

“It is interesting,’’ Van Gundy said. “You certainly don’t see it very often. I talked to Doc Rivers coaching against his son, Austin. I’m sure it will induce some emotions. He knows the players on that team, but they’re doing stuff totally different. But it was his scout [game] and he’s done a good job.’’