The latest hard-to-believe chapter of this bizarre Knicks season unfolded Sunday night. 

How about a win from 21 points down over one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last six weeks? Then add this twist: The hero was buried veteran Evan Fournier, only on the floor because RJ Barrett was ill, and this wrinkle: unsung reserve Miles McBride not only closed, but played an integral role in the win. 

The Knicks, simply, don’t make sense. Less than 24 hours after a gut-punch of an overtime loss to the Clippers, they overcame a big early deficit and were dominant over the final 12 minutes to knock off Joel Embiid, James Harden and the 76ers at the Garden, 108-97, Sunday night. 

“For us to come back today and compete and win the game, it says a lot about the character of our team,” Julius Randle said. “It was a big win.” 

Fournier was critical to the victory, scoring a season-high 17 points, nine in the final quarter. His biggest play may have been a pass. His drive and dish for a McBride 3-pointer pushed the Knicks lead to eight with 3:22 left. It was the high point of what has been a frustrating season for Fournier, out of the rotation since Nov. 13 aside from a few cameos due to injuries or illness.

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“It feels good for me,” said Fournier, who found out he would be playing during the national anthem when Barrett couldn’t give it a go. “It feels good to see my teammates, Cam [Reddish] and Svi [Mykhailiuk], cheer for me because they’re going through the same stuff. That’s why it feels good.” 

The Knicks’ defense, an issue since Mitchell Robinson was lost to a fractured right thumb 10 games ago, was at its best after a shaky first quarter. The 76ers scored just 62 points over the last 36 minutes, as Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims did a fantastic job on Embiid (31 points) and combined for 10 points and 21 rebounds. The other 76ers standouts, Harden and Tyrese Maxey, were held to 12 points each in the Knicks’ best defensive performance in weeks. 

“Our defense tonight was probably the difference,” Tom Thibodeau said after the Knicks (29-26) became just the fourth team all year to hold the high-powered 76ers (34-18) under 100 points and limited them to 7 of 25 shooting from 3-point range. 

The Knicks’ two stars, Randle and Jalen Brunson, were both typically stellar. Randle hit two clutch shots in the final two minutes to put the game away, and had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Brunson followed with 21 points and seven assists, and McBride added 14, equaling a season-high. 

Seconds before the opening tip, the Knicks announced Barrett was doubtful with a non-COVID-19 illness. His teammates then played like they were all sick for most of the first quarter, digging a 21-point hole for themselves. “E-A-G-L-E-S” chants were springing up all over the arena. A long night seemed likely. 

But the Knicks responded with a resounding 20-2 run, mostly led by their bench, which produced 37 points. The second unit’s mentality was basic with the score so lopsided. 

“Really not to look at the scoreboard,” McBride said. 

Fournier scored eight points in the opening half, then exploded in the fourth. In a 15-2 run that put the Knicks ahead for good, he sank a pair of 3-pointers. Then, after fouling out in the final minutes with the game in hand, he received a loud ovation from the crowd, which took a break from chanting, “Eagles suck.” 

“That’s why I love New York,” Fournier said. “They talk s—, but they give you love as well.” 

Still, Fournier doesn’t think this will change his role with the Knicks. Thibodeau is happy with how the nine-man rotation works and Barrett isn’t going to get benched. The Frenchman could still get dealt ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. 

“It was,” Fournier said, “like a fun one-night stand.”