Defense will need prayers vs. Portland

The Knicks have been a dumpster fire on defense all season.

And with Portland’s vaunted duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum visiting the Garden on Tuesday, it’s not going to get any easier.

Asked about how his team plans to contain the Trail Blazers’ high-scoring backcourt, David Fizdale responded simply, “Prayer.”

“No, you gotta compete against them,” the Knicks coach continued. “You gotta keep a body on them. You gotta keep a contested hand up at all times against these guys. You gotta mix in different coverages. They’ve seen them all, but you still gotta throw the kitchen sink at them and try to shut them down or at least slow them down.”

Fizdale said his team had a “really good defensive practice” on Monday. Now if only that could translate into actual games. The Knicks (4-13) have allowed an average of 126.2 points per game during their five-game losing streak.

Lillard is averaging 26.6 points per game, while McCollum has chipped in 20.8 points. Heading into Monday night’s action, Portland (11-5) had the best winning percentage in the Western Conference (.688).

The Knicks follow that up by facing Kyrie Irving and the Celtics on Wednesday in Boston. Fizdale still isn’t sure what Frank Ntilikina’s best position is.

“It’s been good at both. It’s been bad at both,” Fizdale said. “He’s had his struggles. He’s had his good moments.”

Fizdale continues to harp on the second-year pro that he wants him thinking offensively like a guard.

Ntilikina took just one shot in 22 minutes in Sunday night’s 131-117 loss to the Magic.

He said his shoulder is still bothering him “a little bit” but that wasn’t the reason for his lack of field-goal attempts.

Ntilikina, 20, known more as a strong defender, is shooting just 34.1 percent from the field on 7.2 shots per game.