Julius Randle is well outside the MVP conversation this season in the deeply talented NBA, but the loud chants he heard in that regard Monday from the fans at the Garden showed just how much he’s repaired his relationship with the home crowd this season. 

Jalen Brunson returned to action for the first time since injuring his hip on Christmas, and Randle teamed with him in another stellar performance to front the Knicks to a 102-83 runaway win over the Suns — their second straight victory following a five-game losing streak. 

“It’s good to be on the good side of the Garden. It’s definitely a lot better feeling to be on that side,” said Randle, who had run-ins with booing fans last January in which he gave them a thumbs-down and told them to “shut the f— up.” 

“I don’t even remember that. That happened?” Randle added with a smile. “Stop bringing up old s–t, man.” 

Brunson has had the fans on his side all season as the key new addition for the Knicks (20-18), but he sat out the team’s three-game Texas trip (1-2) last week with a sore right hip. The $104 million point guard netted 16 of his 24 points in Monday’s second quarter and added six assists over 39 minutes. 

“It’s huge. He just gives you a different element in the way he can control the game, and I love the way our guys are all playing together,” Tom Thibodeau said of Brunson. “They’re bringing the best out of each other.” 

Indeed, Randle continued his recent surge with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Immanuel Quickley added 15 for the Knicks. They will get a rematch of last week’s loss in San Antonio on Wednesday night against the Spurs at MSG. 

Randle, who averaged 28.3 points in 15 December games to raise his overall scoring average to 24.1, said afterward that Brunson’s presence has “taken the pressure off me” this season. 

“That’s a nice compliment but it’s a lot of credit to Julius. … He’s done everything. He’s been a great teammate, so I’m just doing my part,” Brunson said. “That man has been focused. He’s playing with a clear head, playing focused. He’s having fun. That’s what I see.” 

Deandre Ayton scored 12 points and Chris Paul had 11 for the Suns (20-18), who were without All-Star guard and leading scorer Devin Booker (groin). Before the game, Suns coach and former Knicks first-round pick Monty Williams called Thibodeau’s squad “just a typical Thibs team.” 

“They’re getting better as the year progresses,” Williams said. “Offensively, they feel like they have roles now. Julius is playing at an All-Star level. Quickley’s like Jamal Crawford in so many ways, can just get it going. And [Quentin] Grimes is just a tough dude on both ends of the floor. He can guard, he can shoot.” 

The Knicks missed their first four shots but then rattled off 14 straight points — including 3-pointers by Grimes (12 points) and Quickley — for an early 14-4 lead en route to a 12-point cushion through one quarter. 

Defensively, the Knicks held the Suns to just 11 points in the opening session and 31 in the first half on 14-for-42 shooting (33.3 percent), including 14 of 17 misses from 3-point range. 

“I think our defense and our rebounding, we’re getting back on track,” Thibodeau said. 

Brunson clanked all three of his first-quarter shots but he buried two 3-pointers and netted 16 in the second as the Knicks pushed their lead to 32 with a dynamic 21-0 run. 

Ayton scored six during an 11-2 Phoenix spurt to close the half for a 54-31 Knicks advantage at intermission, but Randle buried two tries from beyond the arc and scored a dozen points in the third for a 79-58 game entering the final session. 

“It was special,” Brunson said. “We were getting stops. We were sharing the ball. We were getting in the paint and making plays for each other. 

“It’s just one of those runs where you don’t really know what’s going on, but it’s contagious. So we were able to get that lead and keep it.”