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Watch: Knicks get aggressive on defense in Game 5 loss
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Knicks get aggressive on defense, but it wasn't enough in Game 5 loss

With players from the old Jeff Van Gundy-era Knicks sitting courtside, it was fitting these Knicks would lean on their defense to build a lead.

Miles "Deuce" McBride picked off a Joel Embiid pass and outraced the Sixers down the court for a layup to push the Knicks’ lead to three points. A few possessions later, OG Anunoby got his own steal and score.

Earlier in the third, New York got a huge rejection from Donte DiVincenzo on Tyrese Maxey, from a guard not known for his shot-blocking.

Overall, the Knicks had 16 fastbreak points to Philadelphia’s four, a sign of their tenacious, ball-hawking defense that generated nine steals. But McBride, who had 14 points in the game, also hit a big shot late to put New York up by six.

It looked like a game-winner, before the Knicks defense deserted them. They fouled Tyrese Maxey and allowed a game-swinging four-point play. Maxey would send the game to overtime, and the 76ers survived, 112-106, to force Game 6.

Live by aggressive defense, die by aggressive defense.

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