NEW YORK — Erik Spoelstra knew the New York Knicks would be just fine. Jalen Brunson available or not, a Tom Thibodeau-coached team is going to play hard.

A Thibodeau team is going to compete hard on the defensive end and find ways to win with its All-Star guard and captain on the shelf possibly until April.

“It’s not their first rodeo,” the Miami Heat head coach said ahead of tipoff at Madison Square Garden on Monday. “They know what they’re doing. Thibs knows what he’s doing. They can figure out a different way.”

Spoelstra was right. Thibs knows what he’s doing. The Knicks coach has proven it for a team that improved to a .500 record since Brunson went down with a resounding 116-95 victory over the Heat on Monday.

A team that once relied almost exclusively on Brunson’s offensive gifts has found another way to grit out victories until his return — smothering teams on the defensive end, and allowing those turnovers to turn into easy opportunities in transition.

“It’s a little bit more pace, getting to some more of the back side actions — but they’ve been defending,” Spoelstra said of the Knicks’ new formula without Brunson in the lineup. That’s the story right now. Holding Thibs down every single night. So we’ll have to make sure we’ve got our pressure releases and attack the way we know we’re capable of.”

Brunson could be out for longer than expected.

The Knicks announced after his March 6 injury he would be re-evaluated with an update coming after about two weeks (March 20), but an ESPN report that aired during Monday’s nationally-televised game at The Garden noted the All-Star starting guard is still in a walking boot and is only doing light shooting on the court.

According to the report, the Knicks are trying to get the swelling down on Brunson’s right ankle, and the Knicks are prioritizing a fully healthy playoff return for the All-Star guard, who is focused mostly on functional mobility work, over a rushed return for the regular season.

Without their go-to scorer and clutch performer, the Knicks are forging a new identity as a stout defensive team.

And they took advantage of Spoelstra’s Heat, who owned the NBA’s worst offensive rating over their last seven games, then failed to crack 100 points against the Knicks to extend their league-worst losing streak to eight games.

New York held Miami to just 15 points in the third quarter.

“Just locking in,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of his team’s defensive effort. “I think we’re doing a great job as a team staying disciplined and following the game plan.”

Knicks star Mikal Bridges erupted for a game-high 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, and Towns added 23 points and seven rebounds, including a personal 15-0 run to start the second quarter.

“I just got hot. I just started making shots,” said Towns, "My teammates trusted me with the ball and I’m glad I could make some shots. I feel good every time I step in between these lines. I feel in range.”

After falling 2-3 on their West Coast road trip following Brunson’s injury in Los Angeles against the Lakers, the Knicks bounced back to protect home court ahead of another two-game road swing in San Antonio against the Spurs then Charlotte vs. the Hornets in a looming back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday.

By Friday, the Knicks will have played seven of their last eight games on the road.

“Yeah that’s the NBA,” Thibodeau said. “Sometimes it’s in your favor, sometimes it’s not. You just deal with it. Every team goes through it. It’s part of it. If you love competition and you love a challenge, that’s what we sign up for.”

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