NEW YORK — Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau entered Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks knowing full well the challenge ahead. Twice this season, the Hawks’ defense, anchored by Dyson Daniels, had stymied Jalen Brunson,

But Jalen Brunson had another target in mind. While he would never acknowledge it and certainly would never admit it, but in the flow of trying to lift the Knicks to a much-needed win, he also was attacking Atlanta’s defensive stopper, Dyson Daniels. Daniels had begun to garner a reputation for frustrating Brunson.

In a game that felt like a must-win for the New York Knicks, they avenged their NBA Cup loss and defeated the Atlanta Hawks on Monday 119-110 with one of their more inspiring efforts all season. New York improves to 28-16 on the season while Atlanta’s three-game winning streak ends and they now sit at 22-20.