If this was Jeff Hornacek’s last game coaching the Knicks at the Garden, you can’t say his downtrodden, depleted club lay down against the King on Monday night.

The Knicks were within five points with six minutes left and six with 3:35 to go before LeBron James steered the Cavaliers home with his nifty passing and scoring in a 123-109 Cleveland victory.

James finished with 26 points and 11 assists and Kevin Love also added 26 before a celebrity-laden crowd highlighted by Masters champion Patrick Reed.

With Knicks president Steve Mills seriously contemplating making his head coach the fall guy for another 50-loss season, Hornacek at least got what’s left of the Knicks to fight in one last home game. In what should be noteworthy, the Knicks made it through an entire season without hearing a single “Fire Hornacek’’ chant at the Garden.

After the game, the players stayed on the court and tossed T-shirts into the crowd.

“Our guys didn’t quit,” Hornacek said. “I don’t think we’re that far off.”

The Knicks were missing Tim Hardaway Jr. (sprained ankle), Emmanuel Mudiay (concussion), Enes Kanter (back) and, of course, Kristaps Porzingis (torn ACL).

Knicks rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina set his career high with 17 points — 13 in the first half — and collected five assists. His growth on offense was evident on a couple of splashy moves to the basket.

Asked about James’ pregame remark that he’s a “cerebral” player, Ntilikina said, “I’m thankful for it coming from the top player in this league. As a kid, I didn’t know I’d be here and able to compete against these guys.”

Rookie shooting guard Damyean Dotson came on late to finish with 11 points in 18 minutes and Michael Beasley led the way with 20.

The Knicks (28-53) are now in a tie with the Nets, whose pick belongs to the Cavaliers, for the eighth lottery seed. The Knicks finished 19-22 at home.

James hasn’t lost at the Garden since rejoining Cleveland and the Cavs have now won nine straight here. They are in a dogfight for the East’s third seed with the Sixers. The home-and-home continues Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena where the Knicks’ season mercifully ends.

Late in the first half, James had his signature moment. After a Cavs steal at midcourt, James smoked in like a runaway freight train. Beasley scampered out of the way and James hammered a dunk, bringing the Garden crowd to a crescendo

Ex-Knick PG Jose Calderon said he’s seen European similarities between himself and Ntilikina. “Team first, team first,’’ Calderon said. “I feel that way too. I feel he prefers to pass the ball than shoot it. He will find a way to mix it and be aggressive.”