kyle high club!

Noah sub O’Quinn’s dominant night rescues Knicks

Who needs Joakim Noah? Kyle O’Quinn, starting in place of the oft-injured center, poured in 20 points, and also made an impressive block on star center Karl-Anthony Towns in the Knicks’ 118-114 victory over the Timberwolves on Friday night at the Garden.

The Knicks may have a starting-center controversy on their hands.

Things looked dire for Jeff Hornacek’s team down the stretch, missing two starters and getting an awful shooting performance from Kristaps Porzingis.

But have no fear. Kyle O’Quinn is here.

Yes, Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony stepped up, but the Knicks got by far the best game of O’Quinn’s New York career, after which Hornacek didn’t rule out the possibility of the 6foot-10 bearded wonder sticking as a starter even when Joakim Noah is healthy.

The replacement starting center helped hold off the Timberwolves’ comeback at the Garden as the Knicks prevailed 118-114 after blowing a 16-point third-quarter lead.

O’Quinn, a disappointment last year in his first season with the Knicks after signing a four-year, $16 million pact, became a fan favorite in one glorious night, getting three offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter and a late block on Karl-Anthony Towns. O’Quinn bagged jumpers all night and now gives Hornacek a tough decision to make once Noah heals from an ankle sprain.

The Knicks are 4-0 without Noah — with O’Quinn starting all four of those games. The fans chanted his name in the final seconds.

When asked if O’Quinn could stay in the starting lineup, Hornacek did not want to deal with the issue, but hardly stated Noah still is the starter.

“We’ll see when that happens,’’ Hornacek said. “Right now we’re just happy. We just won a game.’’

O’Quinn scored 20 points, shooting 9-of-11, and snared 13 rebounds — seven on the offensive glass — and a couple of huge ones in the final minutes as Minnesota clawed back.

“It feels good — I can’t even lie to you,’’ O’Quinn said.

Asked about remaining a starter, O’Quinn said: “It doesn’t matter to me. Whatever coach decides to do, I’ll roll with it. Starting, coming off the bench — as long as I’m in the mix. Whatever he decides. What am I going to argue with him?”

His rugged play in the fourth quarter was enormous. After some of his big plays, O’Quinn gyrated and barked loudly. The fans ate it up.

“It helps to have another voice like that out there, especially a big,’’ Anthony said. “Last couple of games, he’s stepped up big time. Without Jo, he is filling those shoes.’’

O’Quinn finished the night a plus-16 in 31 minutes.

“The biggest thing is you want to win, you don’t want to have a great game and lose,’’ O’Quinn said.

Rose came up big late with some big moves. The point guard was terrific in scoring 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding seven points in the fourth after having been benched in the final period at Minnesota on Wednesday.

“I was just taking what they were giving me,’’ Rose said.

The biggest — and most surprising — highlight came from rookie Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who dribbled past his defender and soared over former Knicks center Cole Aldrich for a one-handed flush.

“I’m just glad he didn’t block me,’’ Kuzminskas said. “Coach was saying in practice we have to finish harder. I was hoping that wasn’t my last drive of the season.’’

In breaking out of a shooting slump, Anthony was rock-solid — 29 points, making 9-of-20 baskets and 5-of-10 from 3-point range. Though he won the game at Minnesota with a last-second shot, Anthony’s overall shooting numbers had been horrid (16of-60) the past three games.

“My body — I felt fresh, had my legs under me,’’ Anthony said.

Porzingis had a poor night, as did Towns, who finished with 20 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Porzingis was worse, shooting 2-for-12 for 11 points. The rematch of the two titans became a dud.

“I struggled — that’s why the game was so close at the end,’’ Porzingis said. “Kyle gave us so many second chances. I told him he saved my ass.’’ marc.berman@nypost.com