Injury-depleted Knicks dealt bad news on Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. isn’t coming back any time soon.

The Knicks received a crippling blow as Hardaway will be out more than two weeks with a stress injury to his lower left leg, as the club continues to vaguely term it.

The Knicks announced he would be reevaluated after two weeks, didn’t give a concrete timetable and ominously announced he would start “a treatment and rehabilitation plan.” That language doesn’t sound like a two-week injury.

A stress injury, according to medical experts, means Hardaway either has a stress reaction or, more severely, a stress fracture to either his fibula or tibia.

A leading expert on basketball leg injuries, Dr. William Hsu of Northwestern, told The Post a stress reaction to those inflamed bones can put a player out two to six weeks. A stress fracture is more of a two-month process but surgery is not required.

A stress reaction can turn into a stress fracture if it’s not rested. A stress fracture can turn into a complete fracture if played on.

The $71 million man had emerged as a two-way force despite a slow start. He fit in perfectly in Jeff Hornacek’s high-speed attack and was instrumental to the club’s surprisingly sound start.

As the second option to Kristaps Porzingis, Hardaway is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

“All we can do is just pray,’’ Knicks center Enes Kanter said. “He’s an important piece to our family.”

Hardaway was a late scratch to Sunday’s game against Orlando when doctors did tests and discovered his sore left shin could be something serious. Hardaway didn’t fly to Indiana for Monday’s loss as he underwent more testing.

“We’ll figure it out,’’ said Michael Beasley, who has been starting in the injured Kristaps Porzingis’ stead. “We did at the beginning of the season when Tim was in his slump. So hopefully it’s not long-term with Tim. I wish him all the best. We love him. Just got to figure it out as a team.’’

The Knicks scoring woes were in full evidence in Indiana as the club couldn’t shoot from 3-point range (6-of-23) and scored just five fast-break points.

“He’s been huge,’’ Hornacek said Monday night. “Obviously Tim has taken that leadership role but Tim’s right up there also on the court. The two-man game we run with him and KP has been pretty good late in games. He’s got the ability to be outside and can also drive the ball. That 3-point threat makes guys get up on him and allows him to drive. He can get off a shot off anytime he wants. Not a lot of our guys can. A few can. Guys that can create their own stuff is important. Tim’s played great for us so far. It’s a tough loss so far.’’

Replacing Hardaway in the starting lineup the past two games was rookie shooting guard Damyean Dotson, who isn’t as versatile an offensive player but can make deep shots. Hornacek, however, likes his defense.

Hornacek said a long-term absence of Hardaway — which is now the case — would likely lead to a different starting five. Doug McDermott, who has flourished as the Knicks’ sixth man, is now a potential candidate to start at shooting guard alongside Courtney Lee.

Hornacek also could promote one of his favorites, Ron Baker, who has been injured most of the season. Baker, in the midst of a sophomore jinx, had a big night in Indiana leading the reserves in the second half to reduce a 38-point deficit into a more respectable final count of 115-97. The undrafted combo guard scored nine points and was a plus-16 in 22 minutes.

“He’s a big part of us,’’ Willy Hernangomez said of Hardaway. “We have great guys. We have to play with each other as a team way more than we did.’’

The Knicks’ record has fallen to 11-12 — their first time beneath .500 since Nov. 1 when they were 3-4. Though their next seven games are against clubs with records below .500 beginning with Memphis on Wednesday, there’s no longer any gimmes.

“Guys have to pick it up,’’ Hornacek said. “In the NBA, there’s a lot of injuries. Guys have to step up.’’

That Hardaway played on a series of left-leg ailments — sore foot, ankle, calf — could have led to the latest injury.