When the media types came over to the Knicks after practice in Tarrytown on Friday, forward Lance Thomas might have been the first guy out of the gym. He was nowhere to be found.

And that is totally unlike his presence on defense for the Knicks. Look at Thursday at Orlando, especially in the second half. Thomas was everywhere.

“He does everything. He’s a guy that’s playing the wing spot and the 4 spot and when he’s at the 4, our defense picks up a lot because he’s able to switch with guards,” Courtney Lee said. “He has the foot speed of a guard defensively so he’s able to get back to the bigs so it takes a lot away when they’re running pick and rolls.”

You look at the final box score in the 120-113 victory and it seems Thomas had a modest impact: six points, five rebounds on 0-for-1 shooting. But that’s not where Thomas made an indelible mark. Try the Magic side.

In the first half, Orlando scored 69 points, shot 61.0 percent (24-of-41). In the second half, when Thomas played 17:14 including the entire fourth quarter, the Magic scored 44 points, shot 42.9 percent (18-of-42). Thomas’ defensive effort is downright contagious. Heck, all the Knicks tried defending.

“When Lance is on the court, we feel more secure, more aggressive,” rookie Frank Ntilikina said. “He has that energy that you feel in your body and you just go. You go defensively. You step up. It’s strange but you feel like you’re less tired when you play with him defensively. He brings the energy we need.”

“He just brings a lot. Leadership, defense everything,” center Enes Kanter said. “What I love is he plays with a lot of passion.”

And the Knicks are hoping the 29-year-old Thomas brings it Saturday at the Garden against the league powerhouse Celtics.

“He’s kind of that guy, it doesn’t matter if he’s on the 1, 2, 3 or 4. When he’s at the 4 spot, then we also have the ability to switch some too because you’re not afraid of Lance switching off on a point guard,” coach Jeff Hornacek said. “You saw him pick up guys full court. He knocked one away and ended up ending the game with a steal. Lance is the guy that, if you read a stat line, you’re not going see his value. … He does his role.”

Center Luke Kornet will be assigned to the Knicks’ Westchester G-League team Saturday while forward Isaiah Hicks stays with the parent club.

Ntilikina admitted he still battles knee discomfort.

“It’s something I still feel,” the rookie said. “However it’s going to be my job to play with it and just be tough.”

Hornacek on Emmanuel Mudiay’s first start Thursday amid all the point guards: “I thought they all did well. Emmanuel made some great passes. … I felt pretty comfortable with Frank and Trey [Burke] in together. I like what I saw from those guys.”