76ers donate playoff tickets to keep them from Knicks fans

D Philadelphia 76ers Each home will donate 500 tickets to the area community for second-round playoff games in their latest effort to keep more of their own fans in the building and avoid overcrowding. New York Knicks supporter

The Sixers’ previous strategy for driving Knicks fans in this playoff series was to try to geographically limit sales through Ticketmaster to the greater Philadelphia area.

When the teams met in the first round two years ago, Knicks fans packed the All-Star Center in Philadelphia and the Sixers. Joel Embiid Prior to this series, fans had pleaded not to do it again.

“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like it was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We’re telling you. The atmosphere we’ve had the last few games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need it all.”

The Sixers said 250 frontline medical personnel from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine and 250 local educators selected by Learn Fresh, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia school district and the Camden, New Jersey, school district will participate in Game 3 on Friday night.

The Uplift Center for Grieving Children, the Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia, La Liga del Barrio, and 76 selected by Apologues for Sunday’s Game 4 will host 500 mothers and children.

The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.

“Good thing about New Yorkers, man, they’re persistent. They don’t care, bro. They’re going to do it, man,” the Knicks forward said. Josh Hart Entering the said series. “And for a lot of people, everything revolves around money. So, you know, if they get a good price for those tickets, they’re going to sell them.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.