Embiid exits Madison Square Garden smiling after latest clash with Knicks
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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid returned to Madison Square Garden on Jan. 4 and once again heard a chorus of boos from New York fans still stung by his dominant 2024 playoff showing. By the final horn, however, the All-Star center was the one celebrating, trading verbal jabs with courtside spectators while flashing a grin as he walked toward the tunnel.
The scene echoed Embiid’s last postseason visit to Manhattan, when his scoring bursts and on-court theatrics helped eliminate the Knicks and cemented his status as a Garden villain. Friday’s regular-season matchup brought the same tense atmosphere: every touch prompted jeers, every basket drew a louder response, and Embiid met the hostility with his trademark flair.
Although specific statistics were not immediately disclosed, Embiid’s presence proved decisive in key stretches, repeatedly forcing double-teams in the paint and setting up open looks for teammates. At one point in the fourth quarter, the 7-footer pointed to his wrist—a gesture Knicks fans recognized from the 2024 playoffs—before sinking a mid-range jumper that quieted the crowd.
Moments later, with the outcome effectively sealed, Embiid exchanged words with several spectators near mid-court, thumped his chest, and waved goodbye. The gesture completed a night that underscored why the Garden faithful continue to view him as a nemesis: even in the regular season, he relishes the role of spoiler in New York’s most famous arena.
Source: New York Post
