The Philadelphia 76ers surprised many in the basketball world on Tuesday night when they won Game 5 of their playoff series against the New York Knicks to force a Game 6 in the series. Game 6 will be played on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and it looks like a lot of the city’s most selfless public servants will be in attendance.
76ers ownership will reportedly help give out over 2,000 Game 6 tickets to first responders, health care professionals and others working within the Philadelphia community.
“76ers ownership Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman, alongside Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, are teaming up to purchase and distribute more than 2,000 tickets to Sixers fans to Game 6,” a 76ers spokesperson said. “The tickets will be distributed to first responders, health care professionals, community groups, and other local Philadelphia-based organizations to harness the intensity and excitement for tomorrow’s crucial showdown with the New York Knicks.”
It’s a move by the organization that will certainly be applauded, and it might end up benefiting the team itself. As the post indicates, part of the reason behind the decision is to harness the “intensity and excitement” of Thursday night’s matchup.
Surely, over 2,000 seats being filled with passionate fans who would otherwise not likely be able to afford the exorbitant prices attached to playoff tickets will help boost the energy within the arena.
Despite playing in front of an away crowd for Tuesday night’s game, the 76ers roster certainly seemed to recognize the importance of the moment in that game. With the Knicks owning a 3-1 lead in the series heading into Tuesday night, the 76ers knew it was a win-or-go-home scenario.
Their stars rose to the occasion, particularly guard Tyrese Maxey. Maxey put in an incredible performance, logging 46 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Big man Joel Embiid also dominated, recording a triple-double of 19 points, 16 boards and 10 assists.
Despite those impressive outings, Philadelphia required a game-tying 3-pointer by Maxey to force an overtime period.
TYRESE MAXEY SENDS THE GAME TO OVERTIME 😱 pic.twitter.com/C30HvyYBK5
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) May 1, 2024
That epic game-tying score seemed to take all the wind out of the Knicks’ sails. The 76ers dominated the overtime period, outscoring the Knicks 15-9 on their way to a six-point victory.
Despite the fact that the 76ers are still down in the series, 2-3, it is likely that some in the Knicks locker room are starting to feel the pressure. Of course, if the Sixers can pull off the win in Game 6, the series will head back to New York for a decisive Game 7 bout.
While many of the first-round series this season have been somewhat pedestrian, this one has the makings of a classic. Fans will have to wait and see if it lives up to that potential.
