Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has made an impassioned plea to the team's supporters, urging them not to sell their tickets to New York Knicks fans ahead of their upcoming NBA playoff series. The former MVP even offered to personally cover the cost of tickets if financial concerns were a deterrent.
Embiid and the Sixers are set to face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals following a remarkable comeback series win over the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia fought back from a 3-1 deficit to triumph in a decisive Game 7 on Saturday, snapping an NBA-record 0-18 streak when trailing 3-1 in a series. Boston, meanwhile, had previously held a perfect 32-0 record when leading a series 3-1.
Now, the Sixers turn their attention to the Knicks, who demonstrated their championship credentials with a historic 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. That game featured the largest halftime lead in NBA history, with New York holding an 83-36 advantage at the break.
As Philadelphia prepares to host New York at the Wells Fargo Center, Embiid has implored fans to resist the temptation to sell their tickets to opposing supporters. 'I just have a message for our fans,' Embiid said after the Game 7 win over Boston. 'Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We're going to need the support.'
The Knicks faithful notably took over the Wells Fargo Center when the two teams met in the postseason two years ago, seemingly purchasing tickets from Sixers fans. Philadelphia's ownership attempted to block them from buying tickets for Game 6, but New York won that game to clinch the series. Embiid previously expressed frustration, admitting it 'kind of p***es me off' that so many Knicks supporters filled the arena.
This time around, Embiid is determined to avoid a repeat. 'Knicks fans travel - they buy tickets,' he said. 'There's going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don't do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I've got you.'
