Finally healthy, Thomas sharp defensively

PHILADELPHIA — Lance Thomas has replaced Ron Baker as coach Jeff Hornacek’s favorite player.

With the Knicks’ defense rising up, Hornacek dished all the credit to Thomas’ return after a month-long absence. Thomas broke the orbital bone in his face in mid-January when he got clocked by the elbow of Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas.

Thomas never envisioned a broken face would give him the chance to heal his plantar fasciitis, which had plagued both his feet since training camp. The Knicks, who play the Sixers here Friday, are 3-3 since the masked man made it back in the compelling win over the Spurs on Feb. 12.

Starting at small forward in Orlando on Wednesday, logging 31 minutes, Thomas led the defensive stand in the 101-90 victory. Most of all, Hornacek said, Thomas covers up for the defensive mistakes of his teammates.

“I just think his contribution on the defensive end has been fantastic in games,’’ Hornacek said.

His failure to excel at the season’s outset, Thomas believes, was due to the foot pain that has disappeared due to his long period of inactivity.

“I was frustrated most of the year, I couldn’t bring that [defense],’’ Thomas said. “I couldn’t move the way I wanted to move. I was in pain. It feels good to have a healthy body right now. I feel I owe it to my teammates to bring that because it’s contagious.‘’

Because of its defensive mettle, Hornacek could stick with the Orlando starting lineup of Kristaps Porzingis at center, Anthony at power forward and Thomas at small forward — even when Willy Hernangomez returns. Hernangomez is expected to miss his second straight game with an ankle sprain. Hornacek has wanted to test Porzingis at center, calling it “a case of chicken,” concerned he’d get overpowered inside on defense. Hornacek said he was impressed Porzingis stayed out of foul trouble against the Magic.