The New York Knicks returned the favor to the Philadelphia 76ers after a dramatic victory in Game 6, after the 76ers defeated them in Game 5 to send the series back south. But that would be where the series would remain after the Knicks defeated the Sixers on Thursday night.
The Knicks have officially earned the right to advance to the NBA Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Indiana Pacers. Over the course of the series, Knicks fans have made their presence known at the Wells Fargo Center, most noticeably taking over after the Knicks won Game 4 there. This prompted Joel Embiid to speak out about it, calling the acquisition disappointing.
The 76ers attempted to thwart the presence of Knicks fans in Game 6 after taking control of Game 4, but it didn’t work. As the seconds ticked away to New York’s 118-115 victory and the right to advance to the next round, their faithful regained control of the Sixers’ arena. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau spoke about this and his fans.
“I think because of the proximity to New York we end up having a lot of fans here too, we feel like we have the best fans in the world,” Thobodeau said. “They travel, so they come with us wherever we go. But it’s wonderful to play in that atmosphere where there is so much passion among the fans.”