Madison Square Garden was electric Monday night, and not in a way Joel Embiid would appreciate. Knicks fans unleashed a chorus of boos, heckles, and jeers at the 76ers' star throughout Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals—his first playoff appearance at the Garden since cementing his status as a full-blown sports villain in 2024. And if Embiid was hoping to silence the crowd with his performance, he came up short.
The 76ers fell hard, 137-98, and Embiid struggled to find his footing. He managed just 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, along with four rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. It was a far cry from the dominant force fans have come to expect. The Knicks' center duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson held their ground against Embiid, even after both landed in early foul trouble. Embiid went 8-of-9 from the free-throw line but never found a rhythm from the field, shooting 1-of-6 in the first quarter—including a missed layup—and finishing 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.
The game quickly slipped away from Philadelphia. Embiid posted a -24 plus-minus, while Knicks stars Jalen Brunson (35 points in 31 minutes) and Towns (17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, six assists) outshined him. The tension dates back to the 2024 playoffs, when Embiid's controversial plays—most notably a flagrant foul that pulled Robinson to the ground—ignited a fiery rivalry. Despite being less than three months removed from left knee surgery and battling Bell's palsy, Embiid averaged 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in that six-game series loss. But Knicks fans haven't forgotten, and they made their feelings known all night.
The crowd booed Embiid loudest during pregame introductions, chanted expletives at him throughout the game, and erupted when he tripped Josh Hart in transition for a first-quarter foul. Embiid shot just 3-of-10 in the first half, heading into the break with 12 points, three rebounds, and one assist. He added two more points from free throws before checking out at the 6:03 mark of the third quarter, with the Sixers trailing 93-64. The score never got close, and Embiid didn't return.
For basketball fans and gear enthusiasts alike, this series is shaping up to be a classic clash of grit and star power. Stay tuned for Game 2—and maybe stock up on your favorite playoff gear while you're at it.