CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Even after back-to-back games in which his offense struggled against a completely changing defense – and even after Josh Hart long admitted that the Knicks weren’t executing that defensive strategy properly – Tom Thibodeau rejected the notion that this is the case is a concern.

“The numbers show how good our offense is. “Points per possession, we’re No. 1 in the league,” Thibodeau said, adding that the poor performance in Friday’s 99-98 win over the Hornets was also a product of “fatigue.”

“The change is nothing new. Every team we played against changed. Most teams will rotate between 1 and 4. If you have size at this point, rotate from 1 to 4. Some teams will rotate from 1 to 5. …So we’ve seen it all year long. That’s why I say that the entire work says what you are. The numbers say what you are.”

Two days earlier, Hart said the move had given the Knicks fits and stalled the offense, citing losses to the Celtics, Rockets and Mavericks. These opponents went from 1 to 5 and had success while leaving Karl-Anthony Towns a smaller defender.

The Hornets did the same thing on Friday, and the Knicks managed just 15 points in the first quarter – two days after they scored 15 points in the first quarter in Dallas.

The point total of 99 was the second lowest of the season behind the 97 the Knicks scored in the loss to Houston.

Mikal Bridges ended a seven-game streak without making a free throw, drawing a foul midway through the third quarter before going 1 of 2 from the stripe.

Bridges’ lack of fouls has become a symbol of his struggles and anti-aggression behavior. He averages less than one free throw attempt per game.

“I just try to find ways within our offense to get to the line,” he said.

Thibodeau added: “I just want him to play his game. Take your shots. Mikal is not a specialist. He’s an all-round player.”

Russell Westbrook flipped the Knicks this week and was fined $35,000 on Friday, the NBA announced.

According to the league, Westbrook, a backup guard for the Nuggets, made the “obscene gesture” in the fourth quarter of Denver’s disastrous loss on Monday. He appeared to give the middle finger to the Knicks’ bench after sinking a three-pointer with about six minutes left and the Nuggets trailing by 23.