The last taste of the West was a sweet one. The Knicks shut down the Suns on Friday in a defensive gem, and coach Jeff Hornacek sang the praises of his team.
Hornacek lauded the leadership of co-captain Lance Thomas, the doggedness of both Tim Hardaway Jr. and former Michigan teammate Trey Burke, and the toughness of Enes Kanter.
The stretch of seven straight road games — including a six-game trip against the Western Conference preceded by Brooklyn — is over. The Knicks are wobbly but standing.
They finished 3-4 (2-4 against the West). That left the Knicks alive for a playoff berth after 50 games — 4 ½ games out of the No. 8 seed at 22-28 with 32 to play.
Hornacek’s team still has a pulse as the trade deadline looms Feb. 8. If the Knicks don’t gain ground, they will look to be sellers and pawn off veterans for futures/young players.
One NBA source said the Knicks inquired about the Nets’ 23-year-old defensive forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but Brooklyn asked for a first-rounder. That the Knicks’ pick is looking more like a lottery selection makes it virtually untouchable.
According to sources, Kyle O’Quinn and Courtney Lee are the likeliest to go, even if the most inquiries the Knicks have received have been about center Willy Hernangomez, as The Post first reported. Trading O’Quinn opens the door for Hernagomez, 23, to play.
Recently they are receiving more calls about the 32-year-old Lee, averaging a career-best 13.5 points. The Knicks won’t move him unless significant value comes back. Plus, his $11.7 million salary means the Knicks need to find a club with cap room such as the Jazz, or they would have to take back significant money. Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry are vehemently opposed to inheriting any more bad contracts.
After a 107-85 victory Friday, Hornacek smiled for the first time in days. Since Los Angeles last weekend, Hornacek has acted tightly wound, partly because of disgruntled Joakim Noah’s abrupt departure. The Post reported Noah may not rejoin the squad until Thursday in Milwaukee. The Knicks have ramped up efforts to trade Noah’s contract, but realize the immense challenge.
“I’m really happy to see after a 12-day trip, seven road games, most teams cash in the last one because they’re ready to go home,’’ Hornacek said in Phoenix. “Ours guys didn’t. They really D’d up against a high-scoring team.’’
After allowing 130 points in Denver, Thomas delivered a spirited talk at the team breakfast meeting Friday in the Phoenix hotel. Hornacek, too, met with slumping Kanter and asked him for a renewed spark.
After Hardaway was victim of a dangerously hard flagrant foul by Devin Booker and played on, Kanter baited the Suns star into an ejection after blocking his shot and taunting him.
Hornacek said Hardaway, who survived smashing into the stanchion, could finally be back to regular minutes Tuesday against the Nets at the Garden.
And recently signed Burke has earned his minutes after this trip. Against Phoenix, Burke exploded for 16 fourth-quarter points after a quiet outing then acted like “Angry Grandpa’’ — Hardaway’s nickname.
“Tim’s a tough kid — that’s what we’re trying to build here with the Knicks, finding guys like that who compete every night,’’ Hornacek said. “Tim and Trey are the same. I started laughing. When Trey came off the court, he was mad because he didn’t play well the first part of the game. They get hard on themselves.’’