Miles McBride and Landry Shamet are proving to be crucial defensive assets for the Knicks

For both Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, three-point shooting is what they are most associated with.

After all, they shoot 43.7 percent and 43.5 percent from deep. Their competence on the other end of the line is often lost in the discourse.

But their defense is crucial, and something the Knicks can barely reproduce.

“Shots fall, sometimes they don’t. It’s not as controllable as your effort,” Shamet told The Post after the Knicks’ 112-109 win over the 76ers Saturday in Philadelphia. “On the defensive side, you’ve got to find ways to – coaches and good coaches always say it – you’ve got to find ways to win games when the ball isn’t going in. I think you just take pride in our principles and just try to guard. It’s a pride thing, a personal thing.”

Coach Mike Brown has long praised and identified McBride and Shamet as the Knicks’ two best offensive defensemen, especially when they were injured and the Knicks’ defense fell apart without them. It’s the biggest weakness in their roster: Mikal Bridges has struggled in the role, allowing ballhandlers to break down their defense, get into the lane and hurt them.

Notably, it was McBride and Shamet – not Bridges – who were on the ground at the end of the match. Yes, Bridges struggled a lot with his shot, going 3-for-16 from the field. But it also became clear that McBride and Shamet were better equipped at guarding Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Maxey and Edgecombe torched the Knicks in the first two games between the two teams this season – both 76ers wins at Madison Square Garden. McBride missed the first matchup and Shamet missed both the first two.

It’s no coincidence that Saturday’s results were much better, both healthy and in the lineup.

“They’re huge,” Brown said. “Again, you can’t stop guys like that [Maxey and Edgecombe]but to have a guy like Deuce come off the bench, to have a guy like Landry — both guys are physical at the point of attack, whether those guys are trying to get over pick-and-rolls or trying to get over them [dribble handoffs] or even pindowns. And to have that kind of relentless pursuit with athleticism, strength, toughness and the mentality is phenomenal. And of course we need those guys.”

Bridges has misplayed that role since the Knicks traded five first-rounders to acquire him last year. He has good straight-line speed, but not as fast laterally. McBride and Shamet are both stronger as well, allowing them to keep the ballhandlers in front of them.

It wouldn’t be surprising if McBride and Shamet continue to see more late minutes at Bridges’ expense.

“They were huge,” Josh Hart said. “I think Sham got two offensive fouls blowing handoffs or things like that. So he was huge. The guy was great all game. That’s obviously a tough game there with Tyrese. So give those guys a lot of credit. He did a really good job and we need that.”

With better pressure at the point of attack, the defensive shortcomings of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are better masked. Without constant penetration in the lane, OG Anunoby can operate where he does best: he acts as a free safety in football, where he can be disruptive in passing lanes and create turnovers.

It can also be contagious.

“I think it’s just coming in. When you come off the bench, you have new legs,” Shamet said. “You observed and looked at what was happening in the game. ‘How can I integrate myself into what’s going on as quickly as possible, without any interruptions’ or ‘how can I take what’s going on to the next level?’ Sometimes it’s as simple as ball pressure and going full court once or twice. Like I said, if you can start the dominoes, the trickle-down effect is real.”

Brown started to sound a bit like a broken record when he kept mentioning how he missed McBride and Shamet in that role. But there was clearly a reason for it.

It could be a game changer for the Knicks.