Knicks Fever Hits New Heights in New York’s Game 3 Finals

Inside Madison Square Garden, Spike Lee proudly sported a Knicks jersey with Pope Leo’s name emblazoned on the back. Fans decked out in blue and orange filled the concourse and streets, their cheers echoing throughout the area. Watch parties popped up citywide, even at a funeral home in Brooklyn, as anticipation for the Knicks soared to unprecedented levels on Monday night. New York played host to Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

Enthusiastic chants of ‘Let’s go Knicks!’ and ‘Knicks in four!’ reverberated in midtown Manhattan. This excitement persisted despite tight security linked to President Donald Trump’s visit, which led to significant delays for fans entering the venue. For the first time since 1999, the Knicks were in the finals and held a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. This home game was a coveted event, with ticket prices surpassing the average rent in Manhattan.

Greg Weldon, who traveled from Florida, echoed the sentiment of many attendees. ‘This is my son here, so taking him to the finals is an experience beyond value,’ said Weldon, reminiscing about attending the 1970 and 1973 finals when the Knicks won.

The cheapest upper-deck tickets sold for over $5,000 on resale sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, and VividSeats. Courtside seats fetched more than $75,000. ‘That’s a significant amount for a ticket,’ said guard Jose Alvarado, a New York native planning a viewing party in Brooklyn and another at his high school in Queens. He expressed gratitude for those attending and emphasized the team’s exceptional achievements.

The Knicks were two wins away from their first championship since 1973. Game 3 attracted notable figures, including President Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Trump’s attendance necessitated the cancellation of a watch party planned outside the arena, a gathering point for fans during the playoffs, which featured a 13-game winning streak. ‘Hope has returned to the city,’ declared center Karl-Anthony Towns. Teammate Josh Hart shared enthusiasm but lamented the high prices, noting many long-awaiting fans could not attend; he wished for more affordable tickets.

No NBA team has ever gone up 2-0 in the finals on the road and failed to clinch the series. ‘If they win this game, the series is basically decided. It’s the game to see,’ Weldon added. Over the weekend, the potential for a sweep drove ticket prices to exceed $10,000 each, remaining high for any necessary Game 6.

With fewer than 20,000 attendees lucky enough to be present each night, Alvarado acknowledged the efforts of those watching from elsewhere. ‘The people who can’t afford it, we improvise,’ he said. ‘We’re New Yorkers. We find ways to watch, and that’s what we’re doing.’

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Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo contributed to this report.

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