ATLANTA — On Dec. 15, the Knicks beat the Nets on a late game-winner from Jalen Brunson. 

It was forgettable because it resembled so many other Knicks’ victories this season — they flirted with a collapsing defeat but were bailed out by their point guard, the NBA’s most deserving candidate for Clutch Player of the Year. 

Still, the win was noteworthy for reasons that couldn’t be fathomed in the moment. That night, the Knicks jumped Orlando for third in the Eastern Conference, behind the No. 2 Celtics and No. 1 Cavaliers. 

For the following four months — and very likely until the end of this season — that’s where the Knicks resided: driving a nifty car toward 50-plus wins, but stuck in neutral and firmly in the bronze position.