KP shows ‘flashes of brilliance’ in defeat

Kristaps Porzingis’ debut for Latvia’s national team ended in defeat.

In its opening match Friday of the European Championships, Porzingis scored 18 points and notched four blocks, but Serbia toppled Latvia, 92-82.

Porzingis, who had missed some exhibition games with a bruised knee, wasn’t much of a force on the boards. He also got into foul trouble in the second half, picking up a fourth early in the third period.

Porzingis shot 7 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. He re- corded four rebounds, but none on the offensive glass, and had three turnovers in 28 minutes. Center Boban Marjanovic scored 13 points in 16 minutes as Serbia used its superiority in the paint to notch a 24-8 edge in second-chance points.

Porzingis scored on the game’s opening possession on a jumper, but missed his next four shots.

“At times there were flashes of the great Porzingis we have seen in the NBA season with highlight blocked shots, dunks and huge 3-pointers” Latvian journalist Andrejs Silins of Sportacentrs.com told The Post. “Unfortunately, he got into foul trouble and didn’t play much in the third quarter. He played only at center, had some trouble with Marjanovic — not huge but still.”

Porzingis did not talk to the media after the loss.

Willy Hernangomez had 18 points and nine rebounds for Spain in a victory over Montenegro. He shot 6 of 7 from the field and the free-throw line.

Former Knick Amar’e Stoudemire announced on Instagram he won’t be fulfill- ing the second year of his contract with Hapoel Jerusalem.

On social media, Stoudemire wrote, “I could not find a role that I felt would allow me to meaningfully contribute in the way I have always been accustomed to play. I feel it is my time now, to return to the shareholder’s position and help make this team even better.

Stoudemire thanked the organization for allowing him to “play in the holiest of cities.”

Stoudemire, 34, told The Post he would seek a chance to be a veteran mentor on an NBA club, citing the Knicks, who already have Joakim Noah in that role.