Focus on ‘D’ pays off

The Knicks have attempted to build a defensive identity under coach Tom Thibodeau this season, and they came up with a timely stop when they needed one Thursday night at the Garden.

Reggie Bullock redeemed himself from a late turnover with a key steal from Evan Fournier in the closing seconds to seal the Knicks’ 94-93 win over the Magic.

“It was a great confidence builder after I pretty much turned the ball over real late in the game,” said Bullock, who turned 30 on Tuesday. “I knew I had to be locked in at the defensive end, and I was able to pull out a stop for my team and come up with a big play at the end.”

Bullock, who scored 20 points in his first game off the bench this season, had been tied up for a jump ball on the previous possession. But he intercepted Fournier’s pass attempt at the top of the 3-point arc with 5.9 seconds remaining.

➤ Rookie Immanuel Quickley missed the game due to a sore left ankle, joining fellow point guards Elfrid Payton (strained right hamstring), Derrick Rose (health and safety protocols) and Austin Rivers (personal reasons) on the sidelines.

“It’s more precautionary. He’s got an ankle issue that we’ve got to make sure it gets cleared up,” Thibodeau said of Quickley before the game.

Quickley had said following Tuesday’s loss to the 76ers that he injured his ankle in the first quarter, but he remained in the game and “just toughed it out.”

➤ Rose was able to attend Thursday’s game, but he sat out his seventh straight due to the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.