Madison Square Garden buzzed with excitement as the Knicks hosted Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Iconic filmmaker Spike Lee was seen sporting a Knicks jersey with Pope Leo’s name, while fans clad in blue and orange cheered enthusiastically both inside and outside the arena. Excitement spilled over into various parts of the city, with spontaneous watch parties occurring, including an event at a Brooklyn funeral home.
New York’s fervor reached new heights as the Knicks appeared in the finals for the first time since 1999. They were leading the series 2-0, igniting even more fan enthusiasm. President Donald Trump’s attendance resulted in heightened security and lengthy lines, adding to the evening’s anticipation. Game 3 tickets, a prized commodity, soared in value, even outstripping the average monthly rent in the city.
“This is my son here, so taking him to the finals, you can’t really put a price on the experience,” said Greg Weldon, who traveled from Florida, reminiscing about past Knicks championships in 1970 and 1973. “It’s like that commercial: The tickets, ridiculous; the hassle getting in, ridiculous — the experience, priceless.”
Resale platforms listed the cheapest upper-deck seats at over $5,000, with courtside experiences surpassing $75,000. Jose Alvarado, a New York native and guard, organized a viewing party in Brooklyn and highlighted another in his Queens high school. The sold-out Game 3 featured also appearances by President Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. President Trump’s visit prompted the cancellation of a watch party scheduled outside the arena. Despite this, many gathered, having followed a 13-game winning streak.
“Hope has been brought back to the city,” stated center Karl-Anthony Towns. Teammate Josh Hart expressed, “it’s going to be rocking,” while bemoaning the ticket prices, “I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are.”
No team with a 2-0 lead in NBA Finals history has lost the series. Greg Weldon reflected on the implications of Game 3: “They win this game, it’s kind of over, so this is the game to be at.” Over the weekend, speculation of a potential sweep pushed ticket prices to exceed $10,000 each, matching prices for a potential Game 6.
With fewer than 20,000 attendees permitted each night, Alvarado acknowledged many fans would be watching on television instead. “The people that can’t afford it, we improvise,” he remarked. “We’re New Yorkers. We’re going to find a way to watch a game, and that’s what we’re doing.”
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