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Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was dejected after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday night, leading to an early second-round playoff exit.
Maxey seemed more upset by the fan support.
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Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts to pass Landry Shamet of the New York Knicks during the second half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Philadelphia on May 8, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Knicks fans flooded Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4. They got a front-row seat to watch their team sweep their Atlantic Division rival. Knicks fans even went so far as to infiltrate local TV news to celebrate.
Maxey spoke about the fans during his post-match press conference.
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m honest. It just sucks,” he said via SNY TV. “That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s tough. It’s really tough. That’s just one way to end it and that’s we have to go out there and win these games.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during the first half of Game 4 against the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs in Philadelphia on May 10, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
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“To be completely honest, we were better when we played them at the Garden all season. I know we lost Games 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them it was louder here for them than at the Garden.”
He said it was up to the team to drown out the noise.
“We have to put a stop to this as a team,” Maxey added. “Winning these games, it’s going to make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics, but it sucks. I can’t even lie. It really sucks.”
New York blew the doors off Philadelphia in Game 4 with a 144-114 victory.
Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers defends Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks during the first half of Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs in Philadelphia on May 10, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
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It was the eighth time in the last nine playoff appearances that the 76ers failed to at least advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Philadelphia hasn’t gone this far in the playoffs since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001.
