Jose Alvarado arguably has been the biggest surprise of this first-round series.

He appeared to be out of coach Mike Brown’s playoff rotation ahead of the postseason.

He did not play in Game 1.

By now, he has firmly reestablished a role.

Jose Alvarado celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the Knicks’ 127-97 Game 5 blowout win over the Hawks on April 28, 2026 at the Garden. Jason Szenes for New York Post

He played 12 minutes and recorded 12 points in the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 win over the Hawks at the Garden.

Seven of those points came during a key six-minute stretch to start the second quarter, when the Knicks padded their lead and pulled away.

“It’s just part of the business: stay ready,” Alvarado said. “Whatever the team needs. We’re a really good team. They communicated with how it was gonna go.…