The atmosphere at Xfinity Mobile Arena was electric, and for the home team, it turned into a nightmare. The Philadelphia 76ers faced a humiliating sweep in Game 4, with the New York Knicks dominating from the opening quarter. The Knicks set a franchise record with 11 three-pointers in the first quarter alone, each swish amplifying the roar of the crowd.
This marked the fourth consecutive home game of the series for the Knicks, whose fans had bypassed the 76ers’ ticket restrictions to take over Philadelphia. By the fourth quarter, brooms were out and chants of “Knicks in 4” echoed through the arena, likely still ringing in the ears of the 76ers’ players.
The visiting fans weren’t the only ones celebrating. Some 76ers supporters who heeded Joel Embiid’s call to show up were met with a sea of Knicks jerseys, turning their home arena into a hostile environment. A Philadelphia reporter observed, “You would think that I’m in New York right now,” as a wave of Knicks fans gathered behind her during a live segment.
The sweep was completed in dominant fashion, reminiscent of the Knicks’ earlier playoff series win over the Atlanta Hawks. As a Knicks fan held his jersey up to the camera, the news segment was effectively hijacked. All viewers saw was a mass of Knicks supporters celebrating their team’s return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.
The crowd’s energy fueled every game of the series. In Game 3, the Knicks rallied from a 12-point deficit. In Game 4, they left nothing to chance. Jalen Brunson released shots just seconds into possessions, while temporary starter Miles McBride sank his first four triples of the game. The Knicks tied a record with 18 three-pointers in the first half and finished with 25, accounting for more than half of their total field goals.
Head coach Mike Brown praised the team’s consistency. “If we expect to be who we’re capable of being, we’ll find a way to stay consistent with what we’re doing, whether it’s the energy level, the effort level, or embracing the details we need to get a win,” he said.
The Knicks now await the winner of the tightly contested Pistons-Cavaliers series. Thanks to their fans’ extraordinary passion, the players can rest and recover before the conference finals. Unlike last season, even the fans’ confidence this year seems far from unrealistic.