Sticking with Noah backfires

Joakim Noah was jacked to play against his college coach, Billy Donovan. The duo teamed up in glorious times, winning two NCAA titles together in Florida.

Perhaps that is why Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek finally let Noah play in the fourth quarter of a tight game — and stuck with him to the bitter end.

The Knicks got murdered on the glass most of the game and never more than in the final period as Enes Kanter dominated Noah, who couldn’t hold him off in a 112-103 letdown versus the Thunder on Monday at the Garden.

Noah finished the night with two points and three rebounds in 25:40. Russell Westbrook, a 6-foot-3 guard notched 15 more boards than the 6-11 Noah.

“It’s tough,’’ Noah said. “I want to play better, obviously. I know personally I have to play better for this team to get to where we want to get to.’

Oklahoma City outrebounded the Knicks 53-40 — collecting 18 in the fourth quarter. Hornacek said the bigs have to get more “nasty’’ — which had been Noah’s career calling card.

That’s why Hornacek also went his way in the final period.

“Size,’’ Hornacek said. “I didn’t feel our bench bigs [Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn] were doing a great job with boxing out. I decided to go with Jo. He has a little more size and battle. They manhandled all of us.’’

Noah, who hadn’t played in the fourth quarter most of the season, could be feeling the weight of his four-year, $72 million contract. Since returning from the flu, Hornacek had, in the past two games, taken him out midway through the third quarter and not brought him back. If his defense isn’t strong, he’s a clear liability on offense. He didn’t take a shot in Charlotte on Saturday and was 1-of-2 Monday, failing to score in the final three periods.

“I don’t want to say it’s a struggle,’’ Carmelo Anthony said of Noah. “I think he is trying to come back and figure it out. It’s hard being out and coming back and trying to fit in. It is going to take some time for him to get back to himself.’’

Noah said he knew the lack of boardwork was the key — not Westbrook’s scoring.

“They were able to get a lot of rebounds, a lot of offensive rebounds,’’ Noah said. “The difference in the game.”