Getty Image / Tim Nwachukwu
If you tuned in to the Philadelphia 76ers-New York Knicks playoff game on Sunday and only were only listening to the audio, you’d have thought the game was at Madison Square Garden back in Manhattan instead of at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The thousands of Knicks fans that showed up in Philadelphia on Sunday could have been the difference in the game, as the Knicks won a nail biter, 97-92. New York now leads the series 3-1 as they head back to MSG on Tuesday.
It was striking to watch and listen to. Yes, the cities are just a two-hour drive or a quick train ride apart. But, Philadelphia is known for having loyal fans. It’s stunning that so many Sixers fans put their tickets to a huge playoff game for sale on the secondary market for Knicks fans to buy.
Listen to this reaction when Joel Embiid misses a foul shot late in the game. Remember, this is a Sixers home playoff game!
Embiid misses the FT and the crowd goes wild! pic.twitter.com/zP07kCU82D
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) April 28, 2024
The scenes after the game were no better for the Sixers.
It’s INSANITY inside Wells Fargo pic.twitter.com/taufSxAbQM
— NYKTerry (@NykTerry) April 28, 2024
Knicks fans celebrating in Wells Fargo like it’s 7th ave!!! pic.twitter.com/JhAYHEk5eJ
— Jeff Johnson (@JeffJSays) April 28, 2024
Joel Embiid was, rightfully, not happy with the crowd situation.
Joel Embiid disappointed by the Game 4 crowd, understanding Knicks fans do come to Philadelphia.
"But never seen it (like Sunday) and I’ve been here for 10 years. Yeah, kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town … so it shouldn’t happen."
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) April 28, 2024
Was the crowd responsible for Joel Embiid not making a single field goal and only scoring one point in the fourth quarter? It probably didn’t help. But, even with the crowd, Philadelphia had every opportunity to win a game in which none of the Knicks role players shot the ball well. Instead, they let Jalen Brunson score 47 points.
If Joel Embiid and Sixers players were put off by the Knicks fans at the Wells Fargo Center, they’re not going to enjoy what is going to be an all-time great Knicks crowd on Tuesday night as the Knicks look to finish it off.