In an attempt to provide some community service while also keeping New York Knicks fans out of their building, the Philadelphia 76ers announced they have donated 500 tickets for their remaining second-round home playoff games to local groups.
Medical personnel from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine and local educators will make up the group receiving 500 tickets for Friday night’s Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. For Sunday’s Game 4, 500 moms and their children will be on hand for the Mother’s Day matinee.
The 76ers say the donations are to “ensure Philadelphia’s passionate fans are in the building this weekend.”
The Knicks won the first two games of the series at Madison Square Garden.
Ahead of the start of the series, the 76ers attempted to restrict sales through Ticketmaster to fans in and around Philadelphia. Even players knew a Knicks fan invasion was likely to happen after New Yorkers found their way into the building during their 2024 first-round playoff series.
Joel Embiid told 76ers fans to keep their tickets and show up and support the team this round.
“Last time we played the Knicks it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need the support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need all of it.”
Knicks forward Josh Hart was confident that opposing would find their way inside the building in Philadelphia. “Good thing about New Yorkers, man, they’re persistent,” he said. They don’t care, bro. They’re going to do it, man.”
Before the 2024 series, team owner Josh Harris, David Blitzer and former minority owner and current head of Fanatics Michael Rubin purchased more than 2,000 for Game 6 and handed them out to local groups. The Knicks would close out the series with a 118-115 win to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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