Philadelphia 76ers’ Ownership Buys 2,000 Tickets For Game 6 In Hopes Of Keeping Out Knicks Fans

“The tickets will be distributed to first responders, health care professionals, community groups, and other local Philadelphia-based organizations to harness the intensity and excitement for tomorrow’s crucial showdown with the New York Knicks,” a spokesperson from the 76ers organization said in a statement. 

Rubin specified in a tweet, “We absolutely CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!!” He went on to say that they will somehow confirm that each attendee receiving the free ticket is not secretly a Knicks fan, “Once we know they’re legit Sixers fans and not imposters!!”

After a Game 4 loss, Joel Embiid was vocal about his frustrations with the amount of Knicks fans who were heard in the team’s home stadium.

“It’s disappointing,” Embiid told ESPN in a postgame interview. “I’ve never seen it, and I’ve been here for 10 years. Yeah, it kind of pi--es me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They’ve always shown up, and I don’t think that should happen. Yeah, it’s not OK.”

With attention to Embiid’s comments after the Game 4 home loss to the Knicks, the 76ers bounced back to win an overtime thriller in Game 5 in Madison Square Garden, 112-106, avoiding elimination. To point out, he was booed extra hard by the New York crowd Tuesday night, as chants of “F--- Embiid” were heard when the 76ers Center was at the free throw line.

So far this season, the 76ers have a 25-16 home record (22-19 away record). Then when comparing reigning MVP, Embiid, and how he plays in Philadelphia compared to on the road; in home games, he is averaging 35.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.0 blocks per game, vs. in away games, 33.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.3 bpg.

Down 3-2 going into Game 6, former 76ers player and NBA TNT analyst Charles Barkley had a message for the Philly fans.

“Y’all got to stand up and stand out,” Barkley remarked. “It’s time for y’all to rise up to support those guys. Those guys were up to New York and busted their tail. Come on, man. Make that place the best home court advantage in the NBA.”

The seventh-seeded 76ers will hope to even the series Thursday night against the second-seeded Knicks, which will be broadcasted at 9:00 pm ET on TNT. Important to remember, Embiid guaranteed the Sixers would come back in the series to beat the Knicks, saying they “are the better team.” Let’s see if the extra 2,000 guaranteed home team fans in attendance will make the difference to force a Game 7.