Knicks Sweep 76ers in Four Games at Xfinity Mobile Arena

The New York Knicks finished a four-game second-round sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers at xfinity Mobile Arena. Josh Hart left with the kind of line that only a sweep in Philadelphia could produce, after a building full of mixed allegiance and a season-ending loss for the home team.

Hart on Philadelphia's crowd

Hart, a national championship winner at Villanova University, said after the game, "I used to think Philly was a sports town" and "I don’t know if it is anymore."

That came after Joel Embiid was booed when he appeared on the giant video screen before the game, even though he had previously pleaded for 76ers fans not to sell their tickets ahead of the series.

Maxey hears Knicks fans

Tyrese Maxey said the crowd situation "absolutely sucks," and added, "It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult."

He also said, "There’s only one way to put a stop to it, and we have to go out there and win these games," then added, "I was telling them, it just felt louder here for them than it did in The Garden."

Maxey said, "Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in The Garden the entire season," and, "I know we lost games 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better, and the regular season was better."

New York's road edge

The sweep gave New York its first four-game sweep since 1999, and it unfolded while the Phillies were playing across the parking lot on Mother's Day. Knicks fans have also had a cheaper path to see New York play in Philadelphia than at Madison Square Garden, and the arena sits about 90 miles from Manhattan, which made the takeover possible in 2024 and again this year.

The friction for Philadelphia was not just the result on the court. It was the sound in the building, the presence of visiting fans, and a playoff series that ended with the home crowd sounding less secure than the visiting one.