NBA team owner's extreme act to lock out rival fans to get playoffs edge
The Philadelphia 76ers off-court strategy heading into Game 6 of their NBA playoff series is to keep New York Knicks fans out of Wells Fargo Arena on Friday morning (AEST).
Team owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin joined forces to buy more than 2,000 tickets they handed out to people who serve the Philadelphia community.
The 76ers home court seemed more like Madison Square Garden during the Knicks' 97-92 win in Game 4, prompting 76ers star Joel Embiid to express frustration about the home-court disadvantage.
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On Wednesday, the 76ers won 112-106 in overtime in New York to cut their deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Tyrese Maxey after making the game-tying shot to send it to overtime. NBAE via Getty Images
The average price of a ticket for the match is $US246 (AUD$374) with it being the most expensive ticket for a Sixers match all season.
After the 2,000-plus Game 6 tickets were bought in bulk, Rubin announced on social media they would be given to first responders, health care professionals and other Philadelphia-based organisations.
Dawn Staley, coach of the NCAA champion South Carolina women’s basketball team and a Philadelphia native, also asked fans to not sell their tickets to Knicks fans.
“We need everybody’s support, man,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.
