The Sixers and the Knicks shook hands and then they got the fuck after it.

This was always going to be a war. And Game 1 was a bloody battle at the gates of hell for Sixers fans.

Embiid throws it off the backboard and dunks it over two people. That’s the top highlight for about 92% of every guy who’s ever played the game.

The injury that ensued is the epitome of everything that is Joel Embiid.

A “snakebitten” MVP … kudos, Neghandi.

I’m going to sound like a soft romantic of a sports fan but what a fucking game — oh my goodness gracious, my mud-drug Philly sports heart.

The dramatics of a Game 1 at The Garden.

Who knows how many of these we’ll go through. If by some miracle we actually make it to the Conference Finals or the actual Finals… well I’m not going to make it. You can catch me at Penn Presbyterian.

You can just feel how much it means to New York. And how tired we are of the same fucking shit over and over. How much Embiid is tired of it.

As much as I wish we could sit him the entire regular season, take a look at the recent Durant teams. The Nets and Suns both underperformed due to a lack of chemistry and consistency. If we’re going all the way, we need a clean Embiid in April and May and that might not be possible.

THE GAME

The runs through 3 quarters that led to an even 8 minutes.

Then the battle ensued with the Knicks holding two.

Miles McBride and Tobias Harris come to life and duel it out.

Then the Knicks catch fire at home. Josh fucking Hart. The same man we leave open with 20 seconds on the shot clock.

The Sixers fight back every down possession. There’s zero quit in either team.

Wrestling for the loose ball, Embiid and Robinson tangle with minutes to spare.

Kyle Lowry’s shotgun fire at 1:30.

A Hart 3.

Maxey returns with flames at his feet.

Embiid makes the stellar basketball play and gets Robinson to the line… not without giving Brunson a hardwood trip to half court.

Robinson’s free throws are HUGE.

Somehow someway… MAXEY AGAIN.

And that’s it?????????

Why didn’t we foul?

WHY???

We needed some luck after their hot shooting… but we needed

And Josh Hart gets to ice it?

Kudos to the man. Please never do that again.

The Villanova Wildcat dropping bombs from deep at MSG.

Maxey even hits the heave.

That’s the sign of something.

The dramatics.

Still, give me the Sixers in 7.