ORLANDO — Jason Kidd finally played Kidd-like minutes — a season-high 31:53 — and he saved his best for last.
Kidd, with Ronnie Brewer’s knee swelling up, played the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter and made a handful of big plays early to give the Knicks the momentum for good as they pulled away from the Magic, 99-89, last night to stay unbeaten.
Off a high screen from Tyson Chandler, Kidd, who moved back to point guard, drained a 3-pointer, then hit a floater in the lane as the Knicks built an 84-80 lead with 7:37 left.
He also played his frantic defense.
“Seems like the older he gets, the bigger plays he makes,’’ said Chandler, who teamed with Kidd to win the 2011 title with the Mavericks.
Kidd has been the hidden gem in this 5-0 start.
“For us, our leadership, the guys that are a bit older, stepped up and made plays,’’ said Kidd, who finished with two steals, five points and two assists.
Kidd is two years older than Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn, 37, who shared the Nets backcourt with him once. Vaughn expects Kidd to be a head coach one day.
* The game was delayed for 10 minutes after the first quarter after a frightening incident in which Orlando dancer Jamie Woode, a former Central Florida University cheerleader and member of the Magic stunt team, fell on her head of losing balance atop a male cheerleader’s shoulder.
She lay on the floor for several minutes as paramedics placed her on a restraining board and the arena grew silent. But as they wheeled her out on her back, she waved to the crowd then exaggerated moving her arms. She was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center. The Magic said she was “breathing on her own and moving her extremities.’’
* Iman Shumpert made the three-game road trip, reiterating what he told The Post last week that he expects a January — not December — return.
“I try not think about it because then I get anxious,’’ Shumpert said. “I think about the target date as January and they say I’m on target.’’
Shumpert isn’t worried about where he’ll fit into the rotation that is stacked already even without him and Amar’e Stoudemire. “I’m excited,’’ Shumpert said.
“I think [coach Mike Woodson] is going to be excited, too. He’s pretty good at that. He’s done great so far. Having that training camp, only did him better. When me and Amar’e get back, he’ll find a way to work us in. As long as we win, we’re happy.’
Stoudemire made his first road trip to his hometown Orlando but declined to talk about his knee situation. He hasn’t talked publicly about basketball or his knee since reinjuring it Oct. 19.