‘Unfinished business’ with Celtics, Flyers ring the bell, and other highlights from Sixers’ play-in game win
The Sixers’ play-in win over the Magic had a little bit of everything — bets between longtime friends, “we want Boston” chants, and a cameo from Allen Iverson with Flyers players.
After the final buzzer, the faint sounds of “1,2,3,4,5, Sixers” could be heard through the crowd’s eruption. The Sixers advanced to the first round of the playoffs after defeating the Orlando Magic, 109-97, just two days after the Flyers clinched their first playoff spot in six years — putting Philly sports fans on cloud nine.
“It’s a great time in Philadelphia,” Fishtown native Blaine Darnell, 39, said. “Honestly, that’s one of the reasons why I love this city. It’s a great sports city. We have two teams solidly in playoff contention right now. It’s an amazing feeling. We may take it for granted but a lot of cities wouldn’t.”
The crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena was loud for most of the night. The Sixers’ play-in win was just enough to keep fans hopes alive as the team returns to the playoffs after missing it last season.
» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey’s 31 helps Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, will face Celtics in first-round series
‘We want Boston’
Two minutes before the Sixers’ win, the crowd stood on their feet and erupted in “We want Boston” chants.
With Wednesday’s win, the Sixers will face the Celtics, the second seed in the Eastern Conference, in the first round of the playoffs. The last time they faced Boston in the playoff’s opening round was during the 2019-20 season, when the Celtics swept the Sixers.
“Today was a nail-biter,” said 55-year-old New Jersey native Mo Ghanen. “But we’re so excited. We want to see Boston. We want to see a seven-game nail-biter.”
Despite both team’s playoff history, fans still have hope that the Sixers can pull out a series win — even without Joel Embiid.
“Everyone loves a round one matchup with Boston,” Philadelphia native Billy Schwegler, 23, said. ”I think we have some unfinished business when it comes to that team. So, I’m feeling excited. I know everyone else is feeling excited. If we can push this series to a Game 6 or 7, I think Embiid will be back. Official series prediction is Sixers in seven."
Flyers ring the bell, Iverson watches courtside
Ahead of the game, Sixers fans were treated to a special appearance from Flyers Denver Barkey and Porter Martone, who was dressed for the occasion by sporting an Allen Iverson T-shirt.
After securing a playoff berth for the Flyers two nights before in the same arena, Barkey and Martone rang the bell with hopes to transfer some of that Flyers postseason luck to the Sixers.
Iverson was also in attendance, sitting courtside during the game as the team wore their iconic Iverson era throwback jerseys. The 11-time All-Star later posed for photos with Flyers players in attendance.
A halftime check-in
At halftime, the Sixers led 59-55. The lead was enough to keep Sixers fans’ hopes alive.
“Pretty good start,” said 23-year-old New Jersey native Will Oberholtzer. “I think they can be better …, but hopefully they can play a little better and hopefully can win by 10 or more. Maxey played well in the first half. I’m feeling Edgecombe will turn it on. They get the win. I think they show up to Boston and even get a win there.”
» READ MORE: Live updates:Sixers heading to the playoffs after defeating Magic; location of new joint stadium revealed
Oberholtzer was also at Monday’s game where the Flyers clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes. When it came to Wednesday’s play-in crowd, Oberholtzer said they brought the same energy as Monday’s Flyers crowd.
“[The crowd] is just as good,” Oberholtzer said. “I feel like everybody loves all four Philly sports. They all get the love and support that they need. I just love it. It’s always a good time.”
Bets and banter
New Jersey native Steve Secula could be quickly spotted in the crowd, sporting eye black and a Paolo Banchero Magic jersey — but only one of those items came from a lost bet.
“[I’m wearing eye black] because I bet on the Orlando Magic to win a basketball game and they lost,” Secula said.
Apparently this wasn’t the first time Secula lost a sports bet, previously losing another one that forced him to wear two different shoes during the time he met his wife. So, who’s on the other end of the bets? Sometimes it’s his friend Justin Shaop, who attended the game wearing a shirt that read “I just hope both teams have fun.”
“I am a former season ticket holder of the Sixers for seven years but I root for the Celtics,” Shaop said. “I just love basketball. Whoever wins plays my team next. So, that’s why I’m here. I’m scouting.”
Magic jerseys could be spotted through the sea of Sixers’ blue and black on the concourse. Two of them belonged to 17-year-old Aryan Manny and 18-year-old Chris Lorenzetti. The Florida natives, who are now based in New Jersey, made the trip with two Sixers fans AJ Matthews, 17, and Drew Lubeck, 17.
Before the game, Lubeck revealed that the group had a lot riding on the game. With a Sixers loss, Matthews and Lubeck would have lost $500 to the Magic fans. Luckily for them, the Sixers pulled out the win.
But before the action even started, Manny and Lorenzetti shared some fighting words to their longtime friends.
“Soft city,” Manny said. “I’m expecting an easy game. I’m expecting to have a great time, no problems. We don’t need to worry. No Embiid.”
To silence their friends, Matthews, wearing a Clippers Paul George jersey, and Lubeck, wearing an Embiid high school jersey, made a bold prediction to get things started.
“I’m a huge Embiid fan,” Lubeck said. “If he was playing tonight, he would have went for 50. But Maxey is going for 85, shoutout Bam [Adebayo].”
Maxey did not finish the night with 85 points but he did record 31 points and six assists.
