AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons did not celebrate after setting a franchise record for wins with a 103-97 victory over the Knicks yesterday. Some of them barely even noticed.

“This doesn’t matter at all,” said Lindsey Hunter, who was also a part of Detroit’s 20-62 season a dozen years ago. “We want the championship.”

The Pistons broke the mark of 63 wins set by the 1988-89 Bad Boys NBA champs, a team led by current Knicks president Isiah Thomas. Detroit has two games left before starting the playoffs as the league’s top seed.

The Pistons took care of business early yesterday. They got a three-point lead from Tayshaun Prince three seconds after the opening tip, led by double digits after just 98 seconds, and were up by as many as 27 in the first quarter.

“That was embarrassing,” Knicks guard Jamal Crawford said. “I’ve never seen a game quite like that. We got behind really fast.”

The Knicks, who need to win their last two games to avoid tying a franchise record for losses, were without coach Larry Brown because of a stomach ailment and dressed only 10 players.

“We only get to play five guys at a time,so we’re not making any excuses,” Williams said. “We turned the ball over, and they were getting layups and threepoint plays. When we took those away, they started hitting 3-pointers.”

Wallace added 10 points for Detroit, which only had three players reach double figures. Eight Pistons played at least 20 minutes.

Nate Robinson led the Knicks with 23 points, while Jackie Butler added 18 and nine rebounds.

“That was tough,” Robinson said. “That was really tough.”

Detroit coach Flip Saunders began emptying his bench early in the second – all 12 Pistons players saw first-half action – but they still led 60-43 at the intermission. The margin was still 17 after three, and the Pistons’ reserves did just enough to keep the Knicks at bay in the fourth.

The Knicks pulled within six on Butler’s hook with 24 seconds left, but chose not to foul as Detroit ran out the clock.

“Do you really think they were going to miss enough free throws?” Williams asked. “I told them not to foul. It was my responsibility.”

Crawford seemed mildly surprised by his coach’s decision.

“I think I would have fouled if I was out there,” he said. “It was a two-possession game. Anything could have happened.”