A New York Knicks fan interrupted a moment of silence honoring Steve Nurse, the late brother of Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, during Game 3 on Friday night. The incident took place shortly before the Knicks secured a 108-94 victory, taking a 3-0 series lead.
Fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena had gathered to pay tribute to Steve Nurse, who passed away unexpectedly at age 62 last week. During the pre-game tribute, a fan loudly shouted “Let’s go Knicks,” prompting the Philadelphia crowd to respond with widespread boos. The arena displayed a tribute video for Steve Nurse on the main screen during the disruption.
Nick Nurse had briefly stepped away from the team earlier in the week to attend his brother’s funeral in Ankeny, Iowa, on Tuesday before returning for Game 2. He previously described Steve as a dedicated supporter who would expect him to continue coaching.
Despite geographical ticket restrictions, a large contingent of Knicks supporters filled the Philadelphia arena, joined by celebrities such as Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet. The situation echoed tensions from playoff meetings two years ago, when Joel Embiid publicly urged Sixers fans not to sell tickets to visiting supporters. Despite those pleas, the vocal Knicks presence dominated the venue.
Fans from both teams used social media to condemn the pre-game disruption. The NBA recently reminded teams to strictly enforce the Fan Code of Conduct, with a league memo instructing staff to deter unruly behavior that disrupts games or impacts participants.
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown commented on the incident, saying, “That’s tough. That’s bigger than what we’re doing right now. I truly feel for him and the rest of his family.” Nick Nurse expressed gratitude for the league-wide support, remarking, “I appreciate Coach Brown and what he said. I’m here coaching; my brother would expect me to be.”
Philadelphia now faces a historic 3-0 series deficit, as no NBA team has ever overturned such a disadvantage. The 76ers must stabilize performances from Joel Embiid (18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), Tyrese Maxey (17 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists), and Paul George (15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) to secure a win in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon and avoid elimination.
