The New York Knicks got the best of the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, and afterward, some of the home fans outside Madison Square Garden went to extreme measures to make their feelings known on Joel Embiid.
A group of Knicks fans gathered to light an Embiid jersey on fire, with footage of the scene ending up on social media.
Fans lighting Joel Embiid jerseys on fire outside MSG pic.twitter.com/NCcEVaS5TB
— Charlie Quinn (@CharlieQuinnMMA) April 21, 2024
Rowdy Knicks fans were even spotted shouting “f— Trae Young” after Game 1.
Embiid did what he could to make an impact in Saturday’s game, dropping 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but he wasn’t the best version of himself. He shot just 8-for-22 from the field and went down with a scary injury in the first half, though he was ultimately able to return.
The Knicks know how to win ugly, and that was their recipe for success on Saturday. They found a way to win despite shooting 39.6 percent from the field as a team. New York did shoot 16-for-35 from beyond the arc, good for an impressive clip of 45.7 percent.
Philadelphia will need to steal Game 2 on the road in order to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole in the series. Embiid’s status will be a storyline worth monitoring. Even if he suits up, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be playing at 100 percent.
The reigning league MVP finished the 2023-24 regular season with averages of 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He was only able to appear in 39 contests but was lethal when available. He earned an All-Star nod along the way.
The 76ers have had some playoff demons in recent years, failing to get beyond the second round during Embiid’s entire stint in the NBA. The organization and its superstar would love nothing more than to break through that ceiling this season, but they aren’t off to a very enviable start.
On Monday, Philadelphia and New York will resume their series in a game that could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the best-of-seven affair. After that matchup, the series will shift back to Philadelphia, where Embiid is far less likely to see anyone lighting his jersey on fire.
