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NBA Playoffs: Sixers Fans Jump the Gun on 'We Want Brooklyn Nets' Chants

Sixers fans are confident in the NBA Playoffs as they jump the gun on "We Want Brooklyn Nets" chants in South Philly.
Justin Grasso|
NBA Playoffs: Sixers Fans Jump the Gun on 'We Want Brooklyn Nets' Chants
NBA Playoffs: Sixers Fans Jump the Gun on 'We Want Brooklyn Nets' Chants

The Philadelphia 76ers entered Game 4 on Monday with an opportunity to close out their first-round playoff series with a clean sweep over the Washington Wizards. With a last-hope effort of staying alive and attempting to take down the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Wizards pulled out a win and avoided the sweep.

So, the Sixers and the Wizards met once again on Wednesday in South Philly for Game 5. The first half was a tight battle. As the Wizards took advantage of Joel Embiid's absence, it seemed they were ready to take Game 5 down to the wire.

But when the second half started, the Sixers got a major boost from their starters, such as Seth Curry, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris. After a strong third quarter, the Sixers entered the final period up 104-94.

They then rallied in the fourth quarter to outscore Washington 26-18 to knock the Wizards out of the postseason with a 129-112 victory. Knowing the Sixers were bound to move on to the next round on Wednesday night, fans in Philadelphia erupted in "we want Brooklyn" chants with roughly three minutes left to go in Game 5.

Too soon? Of course. Although the Sixers will advance past the first round, they will not face the Brooklyn Nets in round two. Instead, they'll begin the second-round series on Sunday afternoon with a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.

While Philly might be favored in that series, the Sixers can't overlook the Hawks. New York Knicks fans did it following a Game 2 victory last week as they started "we want Philly" chants outside Madison Square Garden. The Hawks then went on to win the next three games, knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs.

Confidence shouldn't be an issue for NBA fans. Still, Sixers fans definitely offered up more bulletin board material for Hawks superstar Trae Young, who's been battling with a large chip on his shoulder throughout the entire first round.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_ & Instagram: @JGrassoNBA.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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