As point guard Derrick Rose dribbled out the clock while the 1,750 socially distanced fans were on their feet serenading the Knicks in a Garden standing ovation, Rose stopped and clapped, too.

Whether he was applauding the fans, his teammates or himself is uncertain. But one thing is clear:

Julius Randle is the Knicks’ All-Star. RJ Barrett is a budding one. But Rose’s February addition in a trade for Dennis Smith Jr. has solidified the Knicks as winners.

The record when Rose plays is startling.

When the Knicks traded for Rose on Feb. 7, their record stood at 11-14.

When the 32-year-old has played — and that hasn’t been all the time, because of a COVID-19 absence — the Knicks are 17-7 after Wednesday’s 137-127 overtime victory against the Hawks at the Garden.

Combined, their record is 16-20 when Rose isn’t on the court wearing the orange and blue.

Even though Rose wasn’t scoring much since his COVID-19 return, he was expertly running the offense off the bench with savvy, smarts and poise. According to league sources, Rose knows exactly what coach Tom Thibodeau’s system requires.

Now, with sixth-man extraordinaire Alec Burks out indefinitely because of COVID-19 protocols, Rose has stepped up in a larger way, posting back-to-back games of 23 and 17 points while shooting a combined 17 of 29.

“I just try to fit in,” Rose said after the Knicks’ victory over the Hornets on Tuesday night, their seventh straight win. “Look and see what the game needs and just try to fill that void.’’

Armed with the longest winning streak in the NBA, the Knicks (33-27) hosted Trae Young’s Hawks on Wednesday in a battle for home-court advantage in the first round. The Knicks were a half-game behind fourth-place Atlanta in the Eastern Conference.

Rose said he has seen “a winning mentality” with the Knicks — even before he forced the trade from the Pistons.

“Every team that plays against us, they know it’s gonna be a hard game, a hard fought game and you just got to come out and bring your best,” Rose said. “With me seeing that from afar, of course I wanted to be a part of it, especially with Thibs here. I’m grateful to be here. It’s truly a blessing.”

Out of the Pistons’ rebuilding hell, Rose has emerged as the Knicks’ third-most significant player after Randle and Barrett.

Rose isn’t starting, but he’s finishing — at least on nights when his favorite coach senses he’s a more reliable option than starting point guard Elfrid Payton.

In the 2016-17 season, during his first stint in New York, Rose frustrated then-Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek with turnovers or misses on drives to the basket that resulted in fastbreak hoops the other way. Those Knicks finished 31-51.

Now, Rose is taking care of the rock like it’s the heavy medicine ball he traditionally carries around with him everywhere.

In the 14 games since his return from COVID-19, Rose has 44 assists to just 12 turnovers. The win over Charlotte was the seventh game since his return in which he didn’t commit a turnover. That’s why Thibodeau wanted him here.

Two weeks ago, Rose said he was still getting his wind back after having severe symptoms. It looks like he has all but beaten the virus down — as he helps the Knicks beat the Eastern Conference.

“This too shall pass,” Rose said. “I’m pacing myself right now. I’m 32. I have to be smart. I’m thankful my teammates are allowing me to play the way that I play. I feel like the way that I play, it opens up the game for everyone. I feel like I’m unselfish. I feel like I’m a good passer. If you run, you’ll get the ball. I’m in the perfect position.”

Randle is growing as a point forward, with the offense running through the rugged 6-foot-9 freight train, so Rose isn’t tasked with attacking on every possession like he did during his first Knicks run.

“[Randle] makes the game easier for me, so I pick and choose when to go when not to go,” Rose said. “If anything, I want him to play faster. I felt like he should play at the faster pace because he’s pretty good open court.”

That just may be the next step in this dream Knicks season.