MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the Knicks were a second away from absorbing their 50th loss of the season Friday night, Grizzlies rookie Wade Baldwin IV added one more grain of salt to the wound.

Knicks shooting guard Courtney Lee wasn’t going to let him escape without causing a salty commotion. After first dribbling out the clock just beyond half-court, Baldwin suddenly flung in an uncontested 41-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer of a 101-88 victory at FedExForum — as other player already were walking off the court. Afterwards, a fuming Lee stormed downcourt to try to get in his face.

Lee, who finished with 16 points, was calmed down by Memphis’ veterans, but the guard ripped the rookie afterward. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek and veteran Sasha Vujacic also seemed bothered as the undermanned Knicks fell to 30-50 in their season’s final road game. It is the third straight season of at least 50 losses for team president Phil Jackson.

The only explanation is Baldwin was attempting to win the fans free chicken tenders and potato wedges. The Grizzlies have a promotion which kicks in when they score 100 points. Lee pointed to similar unsportsmanlike last-second shot incidents recently by Javale McGee and Lance Stephenson.

“For him to do that, what are you doing it for, bro?,” Lee said. “Think about the people who’s doing it. They got bad luck in this league. … I don’t know what made him want to do it. The rest of the guys jumped on him and told him you don’t do that. He’s new to the team.

“We’ll see them next year — if he gets in the game. He might be in the D-League next year when we play them — you never know.’’

Asked about the last-second shot, Hornacek said curtly, “I played in the ’80s and ’90s.’’

It could have been a reference that more players — not just Lee and Vujacic — should have taken offense.

Told there was a 100-point chicken promotion, Lee snapped: “I guess he was hungry man — shooting that shot.’’

Lee never got to Baldwin.

“The time I was able to get off the bench and walk toward the area, he was trying to get the crowd hyped, walking down the tunnel,’’ said Lee, a former Grizzlies player, who finished with 16 points.

“Nobody’s getting hyped for you bro. You just shot the ball because you wanted to score 100 points. Nobody’s going to remember you for that shot.”

Lee said he let it go because he didn’t want a fine and said Grizzlies players Mike Conley and Vince Carter assured him they were “going to say something to [Baldwin] in the locker room. I’ll let them handle it.’’

Despite Carmelo Anthony resting, Kristaps Porzingis getting back treatment and Derrick Rose rehabbing in Chicago, the Knicks led early in the fourth quarter against the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed. But they folded late, scoring just 16 fourth-quarter points.

The Knicks started the emerging Maurice Ndour for the second time in three games again, and he finished with 15 points (7-for-9).

Anthony sat out the second night of a back-to-back as expected and may already have played his final road game as a Knick — if he’s traded. Hornacek expects him to play the final two games at home. … Porzingis’ back spasms didn’t cease enough, but he’s still trying to play one of the two final games.