Defiant Knicks fans flooded into enemy territory Friday night for Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers — in a swift rejection of Joel Embiid after the Philly star whined that New York’s faithful are not welcome in the City of Brotherly Love.
Dozens of diehards traveled down the Turnpike by chartered bus to Xfinity Mobile Arena in a bid to “really piss Philly fans off” as the Knicks look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“We’re gonna fill the place up with as many Knicks fans as possible,” vowed Vincent Puleo, co-owner of Big Knicks Energy, which helped organize the bus trip.
“Trying to send the message: don’t try to ban New Yorkers from anything!” he warned, adding he wants to “really piss Philly fans off.”
Puleo’s threats come after Embiid — the 76ers’ oft-injured superstar center — groused Saturday about the last time the two teams locked horns in the NBA playoffs in 2024, when Knicks fanatics flooded Philly and made it feel like “[Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East.”
He then pleaded with Sixers fans not to sell their Friday night tix to Knicks fans, crying, “This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Puleo insisted Friday he took Embiid’s whining “as a personal invite.”
“We weren’t gonna go until Embiid said something,” he admitted.
Fans riding the bus also blasted the Philly bigman — as their arrival behind enemy lines neared.
“Forget Embiid. Embiid could say whatever he wants. Embiid could tell us, ‘don’t sell the tickets to the Knicks fans.’ We’re taking over,” Huntington resident Justin Almonte, 25, slammed.
“We’re going to take over Philly. This is home field advantage for our team in a different state. I hope we catch a W.”
Hudson Perl, of Livingston, New Jersey, said Embiid’s plea “just shows how … sorry a fan base” the 76ers have.
“Like you should not be saying to people, ‘don’t sell your tickets.’ Your fans should be there automatically,” griped the 19-year-old, who flew to Atlanta for the Knicks clincher against the Hawks in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Jalen Brunson-led Knicks toppled the Hawks in six games before controlling the first two games against the 76ers at MSG — leaving the Big Apple buzzing with hope of the organization’s first championship since 1973.
Embiid, meanwhile, was listed as questionable for Friday night’s pivotal matchup, but 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame he thinks his center “is gonna give it a shot.”
The bus trip from Big Knick Energy, which is also run by Angelo Pellegrino and Leros Transportation Group, charged fans $75 for a round trip to Philly for Game 3 and is also offering the shuttle for Sunday’s Game 4.
“I think we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna overtake Philly,” declared Dix Hills resident Jake Bornstein.
“We’re gonna mess with the Philly fans. It’s gonna be hella fun.”
Tipoff for Game 3 is slated for 7 p.m.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
