Embiid Pleads with Sixers Fans to Block Knicks Ticket Buyers
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid urged fans not to sell playoff tickets to New York Knicks supporters after his team's Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics on May 2, 2026. The former NBA MVP, who scored 34 points in the win, said the arena felt like "Madison Square Garden East" in a prior Knicks matchup. "Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys," Embiid told reporters.
The No. 7-seeded Sixers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the No. 2 Celtics, with Embiid returning after missing the first three games due to an appendectomy. He averaged 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists over the final four games. The Knicks, the East's No. 3 seed, advanced by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 51 points in Game 6 on the road.
This marks another playoff clash between the rivals, who met in 2024 when New York clinched the series with a Game 6 road win at Philadelphia. Knicks fans previously filled the arena, prompting Sixers ownership to restrict ticket sales and Embiid to voice frustration. Proximity via the New Jersey Turnpike aids New York travel to Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The series begins Monday with Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden. Game 3 follows Friday in Philadelphia, where Embiid repeated his appeal: "There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys," adding, "If you need money, I’ve got you."
