ORLANDO – Lance Thomas has replaced Ron “Burgundy’’ Baker as Jeff Hornacek’s favorite player.
With the Knicks defense rising up, Hornacek dished all the credit to Thomas’ return after a month-long absence. Thomas broke the orbital bone in his face in mid-January when he got clocked by the elbow of Raptors center Jonas Valunciunas.
Thomas never envisioned a broken face would give him the chance to heal plantar fasciitis, which had engulfed both his feet since training camp. The Knicks are 3-3 since the masked man made it back in the compelling win over the Spurs on Feb.