76ers Owners Buy Back 2,000 Tickets To Prevent Knicks Takeover In Game 6

The Philadelphia 76ers owners and former owner Michael Rubin combined forces to buy more than 2,000 of their tickets for the team’s Game 6 matchup against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The owners will give away the tickets to specific groups in Philadelphia, hoping to avoid another takeover after Knicks fans flooded the Wells Fargo Center for Game 4.

“Josh Harris, David Blitzer, [David Adelman], and I just bought more than 2,000 tix for Sixers Game 6 – we CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!!” Rubin posted on X earlier this week. “Giving them to first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations once we know they’re legit Sixers fans and not imposters!!”

The 76ers fanbase is reinvigorated in response to the overwhelming presence of New York fans in its arena in Game 4, a 97-92 Knicks victory. Nearly 100 miles from Madison Square Garden, chants for Knicks star Jalen Brunson to win MVP echoed through the rafters as the road team took a 3-1 series lead and put Philadelphia on the brink of elimination. 76ers star Joel Embiid admitted being frustrated about the turnout after the game.

“It’s disappointing,” Embiid told reporters. “It kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They’ve always shown up, and I don’t think that should happen. It’s not ok.”

In New York for Game 5, the 76ers won a do-or-die game 112-106 after Philadelphia point guard Tyrese Maxey hit a clutch shot in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. Not only did the win keep the team alive, but it also gave 76ers fans another home game. It could be their last of the 2023-24 season. As the Knicks fanbase rallies around its team amid a historic season, the 76ers fanbase may have one more opportunity to respond.

Article by Patrick Moquin