Knicks fans’ outburst marrs tribute to Nick Nurse’s late brother during game 3 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A New York Knicks fan disrupted a moment of silence for the late brother of Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse on Friday night. The incident occurred shortly before the Knicks defeated the 76ers 108-94 to take a 3-0 series lead.
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Spectators gathered at the Xfinity Mobile Arena to honour Steve Nurse. The 62-year-old died unexpectedly last week. During the pre-game tribute, a fan loudly shouted "Let's go Knicks". The Philadelphia crowd immediately responded to the outburst with loud boos.
76ers are doing a moment of silence for Steve Nurse, the brother of Nick Nurse who recently passed away.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) May 8, 2026
A Knick fan yelled, "Let's go Knicks" during it and is getting boo'd loudly by everyone.
The arena displayed a tribute to Steve Nurse on the main screen during the disruption. Nick Nurse briefly stepped away from the team earlier in the week. He attended 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 keep coaching.
#Sixers with a tribute to Nick Nurse’s brother Steve before Game 3. pic.twitter.com/HbY455mKjk
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) May 8, 2026
New York supporters heavily populated the Philadelphia arena despite geographical ticket restrictions. Celebrities including Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet attended the game alongside the travelling fans. The situation echoed playoff meetings between the franchises two years ago. At that time, Joel Embiid publicly asked Sixers fans not to sell their tickets to visiting supporters.
Despite these historical pleas, the vocal Knicks contingent dominated the venue. However, fans from both teams used social media to condemn the pre-game disruption. The NBA recently reminded teams to enforce the Fan Code of Conduct strictly. A league memo instructed staff to deter unruly behaviour that disrupts games or impacts participants.
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Following the match, opposing head coach Mike Brown offered his condolences
"That's tough. That's bigger than what we're doing right now," Brown stated during his press conference. "I truly feel for him and the rest of his family."
Nurse expressed gratitude for the league-wide support.
"I appreciate Coach Brown and what he said," Nurse remarked. "I'm here coaching, my brother would expect me to be."
Philadelphia now faces a historic 3-0 series deficit. No team in NBA history has ever overturned such a disadvantage. The 76ers must stabilise the performances of Embiid (18 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast), Tyrese Maxey (17 pts, 2 reb, 7 ast), and Paul George (15 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast). They need a victory in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon to avoid elimination.
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