NEW YORK -- 0 assists.

That's how many Hawks starting point guard Jeff Teague had Wednesday night in the Knicks' 99-82 victory. It was the first time all season that an opposing starting point guard had 0 assists in at least 20 minutes of action. Charlotte's Gerald Henderson did it twice nd Utah's Raja Bell did it once, but they're both shooting guards.

After the Knicks allowed Nets starting point guard Deron Willliams to go off at the Garden Monday night, scoring 38 points and dishing out six assists, and Mike D'Antoni called out the team's inconsistent energy level on defense, they came back with a vengeance tonight.

"Defense, that is what did it," Amare Stoudemire said. "Our defense was phenomenal from the start."

After the Knicks' 100-92 loss to the Nets, D'Antoni said he wasn't concerned about individual matchups. He said his guys needed to focus more on defending players collectively. And against the Hawks, they did just that. They rotated quicker on the perimeter, closing out on shooters, and protected the interior, not allowing any easy buckets. While the Knicks shot 47.5 percent from the field, the Hawks finished at 39.5. In other critical categories, the Knicks won the rebounding margin (47 to 40) and the points-in-the-paint battle (54 to 38).

"I think tonight was a big step and we came out with great intensity," Steve Novak said. "We needed to play four quarters tonight and bring that into tomorrow night's game."

Teague wasn't the only position player the Knicks limited. This season, the Knicks have made a habit of allowing above average (not great) power forwards, such as Boris Diaw, Ryan Anderson and Kris Humphries Monday night, to go off at the Garden. With Hawks starting small forward Joe Johnson and center Al Horford out on Wednesday, Josh Smith had the opportunity for a big game. But his defensive assignment, Stoudemire, and the Knicks limited the Hawks' power forward to only 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting. He came in averaging 16 points per game.

While the Knicks have been winning the second- and fourth-quarter scoring margin, they haven't had an advantage in the first and third -- two significant periods that start the action. If the Knicks can carry that defensive energy and effort throughout the entire game, they'll be a force in the East like the Bulls and Heat, their opponent Thursday night.

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