Knicks Championship blog: Celebrating the historic title

Knicks bring an NBA title home after 53 years

Willis Reed. Walt Frazier. Dave DeBusschere. Bill Bradley. Dick Barnett. All of the champions from 1970 and 1973, many of whom have their jerseys hanging in the rafters at Madison Square Garden, you have company.

Jalen Brunson and the rest of the 2026 Knicks have joined them in franchise lore, in stories that will be told for generations, and with a banner to be raised beside them as the team that brought the NBA title back to New York after 53 years of waiting.

As the players made history, New York roared, from the packed sweaty bars around Madison Square Garden to watch parties at the Freeport Nautical Mile and Amagansett Square. From the abiding faithful who grew up with the mighty Patrick Ewing to the new generation sporting Brunson jerseys, New Yorkers cheered: Knicks in Five, and 53 years of futility is done.

Read more from all angles of the Knicks' run to the NBA championship here.

'Very hard' to find Knicks jerseys near Times Square

Babu Murshad, 48, who rents a newsstand on the southeast side of Times Square, said he’s amassed 5,000 “Knicks 2026 Champions” T-shirts but they were likely to sell out in a few days.

“I need more, maybe,” he said. “It’s very hard to get the jersey.”

A Brooklynite who is originally from Bangladesh, Murshad said he knew the Knicks' win was historic but hadn’t had time to catch any of the games himself — his shop is open 24/7 and he needs to keep working to make the $15,000-a-month rent.

At Foot Locker near the intersection of Broadway and 41st Street, a special section of the store dedicated to the team displayed Knicks “NBA Champions 2026” and other team gear. But the last available jersey — a Mikal Bridges kids’ large jersey — sold two days ago, according to a sales representative.

The story was similar at the Champs Sports store across the street, which sold out of Knicks jerseys even earlier. On Sunday it was only selling Knicks champions gear.

The JD Sports nearby had Knicks T-shirts and hoodies on a rack near the entrance, but no jerseys.

Knicks merch sells out quickly in NYC

A line ran out the door of the official NBA Store on Fifth Avenue early Sunday afternoon despite customers having to navigate a maze of police barricades to get there because of the Puerto Rican Day parade just outside.

Some customers were disappointed to learn the store had sold out of Knicks jerseys a day and half earlier, although it still had T-shirts, sweaters and hats in stock, according to a sales representative who gave his name only as Argenis.

"We're already out of jerseys for everybody on the Knicks. Doesn't even matter what name. Retro, they was picking that up too," he said as rhythms of salsa and reggaeton trickled into the air-conditioned interior from the parade outside.

Street vendors on the 42nd Street sidewalk were selling Puerto Rican hats and bandanas alongside Knicks T-shirts. Both were selling well, said a vendor who gave his name only as Ousmane from Senegal.

At a nearby street stall featuring Knicks-themed fridge magnets, Jalen Brunson's jersey magnets were sold out but a few Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns magnets remained.

Earlier, on Fifth Avenue, George Foy, 40, was one of many Puerto Rican Day parade-goers sporting both a Knicks jersey and a Puerto Rican flag, which Foy had tied around his shoulders like a cape.

"I had to wear my Knicks jersey, my Knicks hat with my Puerto Rican stuff," said Foy, of Queens. "If the Knicks would have lost yesterday, today would have been different. But the fact that the Knicks won … it's absolutely phenomenal. Riding that energy has been awesome."

'No lead is too big, and no guard is too small'

ICYMI, the emotional radio call of the Knicks' Game 5 victory as heard by 880AM ESPN New York Radio's Tyler Murray and Monica McNutt:

ICYMI: The New York Knicks are NBA Champions, as called by @LT__Murray and @McNuttMonica !

Thank you to all of the incredible fans for listening to @ESPNNewYork this season. Your home of the NBA Champions. pic.twitter.com/XPpVikdtXh

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) June 14, 2026

Knicks fans celebrate at Puerto Rican Day parade

The Knicks' victory added to the joyous atmosphere at this year’s Puerto Rican Day parade on Sunday, for which a significant portion of the city’s roughly 1 million descendants of the isle have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Knicks jerseys were plentiful in the crowd, interspersed with Puerto Rican flags.

One DJ blasting reggaeton music on a float interrupted their set to chant, “Puerto Rico Puerto Rico! Shoutout to the Kniiiickkks!”

Another called out, “Knicks fans — hands in the air!”

One fan of Knicks point guard Jose Alvarado, who is of Puerto Rican descent, rode by in a jeep holding the player’s Puerto Rican national team jersey.

Mayor details parade plans

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced additional details Sunday for the ticker-tape parade celebrating the Knicks’ championship win.

The parade will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday. It will start by Battery Park and travel north along Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes before ending at City Hall, according to a release.

The mayor will then host a championship celebration and present the keys to the city in a ceremony at the City Hall Plaza.

Hochul, Mamdani react to Knicks win

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani both weighed in on the Knicks victory at the Puerto Rican Day parade in Manhattan on Sunday morning.

Hochul, surrounded by revelers on Fifth Avenue, many sporting Puerto Rican flags or playing congas and reggaeton, called the Knicks’ championship victory “the quintessential New York story.”

“This is an extraordinary day for all New Yorkers, whether you're Puerto Rican or not. We are all Knicks fans in this state and in this country right now,” she said, adding the team's journey to the top was “unstoppable, unrelenting, unbeatable and ultimately, unbelievable.”

Hochul said she had watched the Knicks’ 1973 championship, the last time the team won. When pressed, she said her favorite Knick is MVP Jalen Brunson.

Several fans at the parade wore the #5 jersey of Knicks star Jose Alvarado, who is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in Brooklyn.

Mamdani, who wore a Josh Hart jersey under his trademark black suit in the 85-degree heat, said: “I think most New Yorkers woke up this morning asking themselves, ‘Was last night real?’ And it is a beautiful answer to say, 'Yes. Yes it was.' "

Mamdani said there will be a ceremony at City Hall to present the keys to the city as part of the Knicks’ victory parade on Thursday.

For some LIers, the World Cup was the big draw last night

Not every Long Islander was fixated on the Knicks’ championship game. Some told Newsday on Sunday they did not watch it at all, or barely paid attention.

“The World Cup is my thing,” said Ellen McAuliff, 26, as she came out of the 9 a.m. Mass at Saint Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church in Sayville.

A former Adelphi University soccer player, McAuliff was home Saturday night as some family members watched the game, while she “did my own thing.” She said she peeked in during the game’s final moments.

“My brother is into it, so I’m happy they won," she said. “If a New York team wins, then I’m happy. It just brings pride to the city.”

Part of the struggle for some fans was simply staying awake. The NBA Finals game ended around 11:30 p.m.

Outside church, Ken Anziano of Sayville said he fell asleep during the game, waking up when there was about one minute left.

“I woke up at the end and I was, ‘Oh my god,’ ” he said. The Knicks, who had been losing, rallied to take the lead. “Those fourth-quarter comebacks — you gotta stay awake for the fourth quarter.”

Celebrating the Knicks win, and a new addition to the family

Jillian Metros, a longtime Holbrook resident who moved to South Carolina last year, said Saturday was an especially momentous day because the Knicks took the championship — but also because her sister gave birth at Stony Brook University Hospital hours before the big win.

“We waited our whole lives for this," she said, referring to the Knicks’ victory, although she was at least as excited about the new addition to her family.

Metros, speaking at the Dick's Sporting Goods store in Patchogue, said her family had season tickets to the Knicks wen she was growing up, though she has not seen a game in person in years.

When the Knicks won Saturday night, she said, “I was screaming."

NYPD: 63 people arrested as Knicks crowds became 'increasingly destructive'

A 17-year-old was shot, 10 members of the NYPD were hurt and five school buses were damaged as “tens of thousands” of people gathered in the streets north of Madison Square Garden Saturday night and into the early morning hours Sunday, the NYPD said.

The crowds “became increasingly destructive,” exhibiting “incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior," police said. In all, 63 people were arrested on charges ranging from assault to disorderly conduct related to the Knicks game, police said.

The teenage shooting victim was taken to a hospital by the NYPD because an ambulance could not get through the crowds, police said. The condition of the victim, who was not identified, was not available. Three people were taken into custody, police said.

Police said four stabbings/slashings were also reported. 

"It's a proud New York moment": LI fans line up for Knicks memorabilia after historic win

Fans lined up outside the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Patchogue on Sunday morning to buy Knicks championship T-shirts, lanyards, hats, water bottles and even shot glasses.

They included lifelong, die-hard, long-suffering fans, and also those who had never paid attention to the game before but said they were drawn in by the Knicks’ magic during this year's championship run.

“I'm not a basketball fan,” said Karen Triolo, of Holtsville, as she stood in line waiting to get into the store. “But I watched every game. It was awesome. They played so exciting right down to the last minutes.”

She added, “A lot of people I know who are not basketball fans were all about the New York Knicks. “It’s a proud New York moment.”

Even her high school-aged daughter, who has no interest in sports, knew all about the Knicks, she said.

Knicks are already back in New York to celebrate their NBA title

The Knicks didn’t stay in Texas long to celebrate their first NBA title in 53 years.

The team left San Antonio about four and a half hours after their 94-90 win over the Spurs and landed at Westchester County Airport in West Harrison earlier this morning.

Fireworks, but no arrests on LI

In stark contrast to New York City, Long Island police reported no unusual incidents after the Knicks’ win late Saturday.

Nassau police were “not aware of anything out of the ordinary,” a spokesman said. Celebratory fireworks were heard across the county, but a spokesman said there were no related arrests.

In Suffolk, the report was the same: No major incidents, a spokesman said.
 

NYPD: Tallying the damage

The NYPD on Sunday morning said it was still tallying the damage and arrests that devolved from the celebrations of the Knicks’ championship that turned ugly Saturday night.

An NYPD spokeswoman said the department was “still gathering information” on the numerous incidents of violence and vandalism that took place overnight that ranged from gunshots in Times Square, vandalized buses and revelers mounting vehicles in Manhattan, creating traffic gridlock.

The vast majority of the celebrations across the region were boisterous but peaceful.

The spokeswoman said an update from the NYPD was forthcoming later Sunday but offered no timeframe.
 

Gunshots fired in Times Square as fans were celebrating Knicks title

Gunshots were fired in Times Square during a fight just after 2 a.m. Sunday, according to an NYPD spokesman, as thousands of people nearby celebrated the Knicks’ championship.

Hundreds ran for safety as loud bangs rang out on Broadway north of 42nd Street and police officers ran towards the scene.

Officers then gave chase to two men running toward West 39th Street, catching and detaining them a short time later.

Elsewhere in the city, tens of thousands of people poured into the streets near Greeley Square Park in Midtown moments after the Knicks won Game 5 on Saturday night, clinching the team’s first championship in more than a half-century.

Fans climbed traffic lights and did pull-ups, and drivers honked in celebration as T-shirt vendors appeared with championship clothing ready for sale.

Near Herald Square, about 10 blocks were shut down and full of people. People were buying vuvuzelas and blowing the horn-like noisemakers through the streets.

And about 50 people had climbed onboard a Department of Transportation truck.

The jubilant celebration was marred by school buses vandalized and catching fire, objects hurled at police officers, assaults and more.

NYPD officers in riot helmets and wielding batons tried to contain the crowds as people drank, smoked and sang “New York, New York” and “Empire State of Mind” in a delirious celebration decades in the making.

Multiple people were tearing apart Victor Wembanyama jerseys, some also lighting them on fire as others chanted for them to be burned.

Others jumped on cars, climbed scaffolding and scaled street lights.

Nearby, a LinkNYC kiosk displayed a congratulatory ad to the Knicks.

Closer to Times Square and nearing 1 a.m. Sunday, groups of people climbed atop buses, trucks, kiosks, trash bins, scaffolding and other stationary objects. Midtown was gridlocked, creating a maze for people to get around as police erected barriers and funneled celebrants and others off the roads and onto sidewalks.

An NYPD spokesman said at 12:40 a.m. that there had been arrests but a total number was not immediately available. That statement came before others were seen being detained.

Newsday's Alek Lewis contributed to this story.

Trump congratulates Knicks, James Dolan for championship

President Donald Trump posted a congratulatory message to the Knicks players and team owner James Dolan about an hour after the team won its first championship in 53 years.

NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson highlights

Brunson dropped 45 points on the Spurs in Game 5 to win the NBA title. Here's a look at a bunch of those points.

All aboard for an LIRR first: Riding the train home after a Knicks championship

Fans slumped into their chairs on an eerily quiet LIRR train from Penn Station to Long Beach just after 1 a.m.

That was until William West and Rannie Battle reminded their fellow passengers why they ventured all the way into Manhattan.

“I can die happy now,” Battle said. “My Knicks got the ‘ship, baby. That’s why.”

With die-hard Knicks fans dissing bandwagon newbies, Brandon Balwan admits he’s along for the ride, throwing on last-minute orange and blue this week.

“You can call me a bandwagon fan, I don’t care,” said Balwan of New Hyde Park. “I wasn’t there when Cleanthony Early and and Pablo Prigioni was playing, I’ll tell you that.”

Jesse Addesso and Faith Sekol rode the LIRR from Penn Station to Long Beach after watching the game at Stout bar in Manhattan.

“I’ve been a Knicks fan ever since my frontal lobe developed,” said Addesso, 24. “Knicks is blood to me, Knicks is family. This win means everything.”

We felt like if there was any time for us to leave our kids with the babysitter, this was going to be it,” said Dani Chase of Valley Stream as her and Ralston Chase wait for the train. “It doesn’t matter what political side you’re on. We’re all together when it comes to New York.”

“It’s an amazing feeling. This is 50-something years,” said Nordi Veszter of Farmingdale. “I’m too young to understand this, but I feel the pain of the people who’ve been here for a long time.”

Let the celebrations begin

Get that Knicks merch!

Nothing says instant gratification quite like heading out at 1 in the morning to pick up Knicks NBA champions merchandise.

Here'a look at the scene outside Dick’s Sporting Goods in Patchogue at 1:11 a.m. Sunday, via Joe Werkmeister.

Knicks parade in NYC on Thursday, June 18

New York City will host a ticker-tape parade for the NBA champion Knicks on Thursday, June 18, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced after the clinching Game 5 on Saturday night.

It will mark the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks history, according to a news release from the mayor's office. 

Additional details — including parade logistics, ceremony information and media RSVP instructions — will be released Sunday.

“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment," Mayor Mamdani said in the news release. "Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart — just like the five boroughs itself. New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong.”

City Hall and municipal buildings across the city will be illuminated in blue and orange on Thursday, the mayor said.

The commuter community behind the New York Knicks

Walking up the stairs of the LIRR platforms, fans from Ronkonkoma, Great Neck, or Long Beach turned to check that their friends and loved ones are behind them. Adorned with New York or Nowhere hats and Knicks t-shirts purchased on the street a few days before, their spirits were high before tipoff. These Long Islanders were about to be in New York City when the Knicks won their first NBA Championship since 1973.

But the “where” wasn't nearly as important as the “who.”

On the subway to a Central Park watch party, a daughter rested her head on her father’s shoulders as he watched the game on his iPhone.

Inside Central Park, hundreds of people stretched out on the grass, their view of the actual screen itself blocked by trees and NYPD vans. Instead, they relied on the cheering of those actually inside the watch party to tell them the pace of the game.

And gathered in Penn Station were all those whose original destination didn’t quite work out, whether because of immense crowds or barricaded streets. So, packed shoulder to shoulder in Rose Pizza, Knicks fans made room for soccer fans. The staff made fantastic pizza. And the Knicks made history.

In that moment, it didn’t matter that people wasted their money on a ticket for a watch party they never made it to. It didn’t matter if people in the back of the crowd had to have the score pulled up on their phones because they couldn’t see the TV.

What mattered was the fact that all these people, no matter what LIRR line they came from, were in this together — when the Knicks trailed by 29 in Game 4, and now, when history was made. They came from Long Island only to end up being with every other Long Islander. And it seems they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Knicks are NBA champions

The Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973 as they beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, 94-90, on Saturday night.

The Knicks trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter, but as they've shown all postseason, no lead is safe against this team late in the game.

They took the lead with under four minutes to go as Jalen Brunson hit three free throws for the 86-85 lead.

With the Knicks up three and 1:53 left, Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out of the game. Towns finished with 2 points and 10 rebounds.

Victor Wembanyama hit one of the two free throws, leaving the Knicks up 88-86.

The Spurs tied it at 88 with just over a minute left, then Brunson drove to the hoop for the layup and lead.

Josh Hart added a free throw with 26.1 seconds left for the 91-88 lead. Mitchell Robinson got the offensive rebound off Hart's missed second free throw, and OG Anunoby hit another free throw for the four-point lead with 21.6 seconds left.

San Antonio's Stephen Castle added a putback -- his first field goal of the game -- to cut the lead to 92-90 with 16.3 seconds left.

Mikal Bridges missed his first free throw but hit the second with 8.8 seconds left as the Knicks led, 93-90.

The Knicks fouled Harper on the inbounds pass, and he missed two free throws with 8.3 seconds left. The Knicks got the rebound and were immediately fouled with 7.7 seconds left. Anunoby hit the second free throw for a 94-90 lead.

They're watching wherever they are

Dialed in late in the fourth in Freeport

There’s barely room to stand at Prime at the Mile in Freeport, where fans have absolutely packed both the inside and outside areas of the restaurant.

Many people are standing and have their eyes locked on a nearby television. The crowd, which has spilled out onto the street, goes into an uproar every time the Knicks score, and groans in frustration when they don’t.

Robert Lewis, 59, of Freeport, was selling cigars at the watch party. Lewis, a Knicks fan since 1964, said that the team — which has often come back from deficits — reflects the spirit of New Yorkers.

“I feel like being down by 10 is nothing at all to us,” Lewis said. “Because again, our team this year is resilient and they will find spaces out of nowhere to come back and win the game.”

Police in place at Radio City

New York City police guard the street opposite Radio City Music Hall during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Shamet limps off in 4th

Landry Shamet left Game 5 with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter after hurting his lower leg on a drive to the hoop.

The Knicks are down 83-75.

'It's not looking good'

While there have been sporadic claps among the fans in Amagansett Square, the Knicks haven’t given them many reasons to stand up and cheer.

“It’s not looking good,” a fan told his friends after a Dylan Harper layup extended the Spurs’ lead to 68-53.

Amagansett Square remains packed, with most fans — the exception being someone who screamed “Spurs in 7” — hoping the Knicks have another magical fourth quarter in store.

The Knicks cut the deficit to seven (72-65) at the end of the third quarter.

Another non-flagrant foul for Wemby on Brunson

From Argentina, with love

Among the fans at the Radio City Music Hall watch party are Joaquin Gutierrez and Lucila Francica, both 33, who traveled all the way from Buenos Aires, Argentina to root for the Knicks.

“In Argentina, we have a lot of spirit for soccer… and the people here have the same passion for the Knicks,” Gutierrez said. “And we are so in love with the team and the fans.”

Knicks trail by 5 at the half

The Knicks are down 42-37 at the half after trailing by as many as 16 points.

Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 16 points. OG Anunoby is off to a slow start, shooting 1 of 5 for 5 points.

For the Spurs, Dylan Harper has 11 points and Victor Wembanyama has 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Wem-boooo-yama

If the fans at Radio City Music Hall hate anyone as much as they love the Knicks, it’s Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

He gets booed practically every time he appears on screen or fouls a Knick. They cheer when he misses a shot.

“He's a dirty player. Did you see what he did the last couple of games? He's out to hurt people,” said Ralph Provvisiero, 47, of Queens. “He's gonna be the face of the NBA, I think, for a very long time. He's a good player, he's 22 years old, he's still very young, but he's the enemy of the series.”

Big Brunson fan

Along the outskirts of Amagansett Square’s watch party, Matias Mesa, 11, of East Hampton flexed his Jalen Brunson jersey.

Mesa noted that his favorite thing at school to see is all of his classmates wearing their Knicks jerseys — especially those who sport his favorite player, Brunson.

While Brunson has eight points, the Knicks find themselves trailing in the first half for the fifth consecutive game. However, if Brunson can lead another comeback, Mesa will see his favorite NBA team win a championship for the first time in his life.

“A lot,” Mesa said of how much a Knicks title would mean to him, “I would be really excited.”

Knicks down 10 after first quarter

This is Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs.

And this is the fifth straight game where the Spurs have amassed a double-digit lead in the first quarter. 

The Spurs lead at the end of the first quarter. The Knicks went 4-for-21 (18%) from the field in the first quarter. They didn't reach the 10-point mark until around 2:30 left in the first quarter.

But as these Knicks -- and Spurs -- have shown, no lead is safe in these NBA Finals.

Brunson's first three

Here's what the Knicks' first points looked like in San Antonio:

And here's how it looked inside Radio City:

The famous folks found their way to San Antonio for Game 5

The scene pre-game in San Antonio for Game 5.

'I feel like I'm almost a part of history'

As a Knicks, Mets and Islanders fan, Teddy Beil, 14, of Brooklyn, almost never sees his teams in the finals, let alone one game away from a championship. Now, the young fan is at Radio City Music Hall, with 6,000 other fans, ready to see whether the Knicks can close it out against the Spurs.

“Having a Knick logo next to a finals logo, it just doesn’t feel real,” he said. “Everyone is just going to go nuts if the Knicks win tonight. I feel like I’m almost a part of history.”

He went from '88 Chevy Caprice to Knicks mobile

If the Knicks win tonight, Alex Moffatt, 40, of Baldwin, said that if he’s not attending a watch party in the city, he’s going to drive his customized 1988 Chevy Caprice from Long Island to Madison Square Garden to celebrate.

“I have to go around a whole bunch of Knicks fans and go crazy with them,” Moffatt said.

Moffatt, a Knicks fan for nearly his whole life, said that he’s had the car for 18 years, but it became the “Knicks car” 11 years ago. He’s added new additions to the car over time, one of the most recent being OG Anunoby’s iconic tip-in that won Game 4 for the Knicks. Moffatt went viral last week for his car.

“I love this car, and the fact that people are starting to appreciate it and the Knicks are winning so I could drive it more often," Moffatt said, "it’s like a proud moment for me."

"I've been dying to watch the game"

In Freeport, people are dancing as music fills Prime on the Mile’s outdoor area, as a crowd of roughly 100 has already gathered ahead of the restaurant’s Knicks watch party.

Many attendees are wearing their best Knicks-themed gear, including blue-and-orange shoes. People are laughing, catching up with each other and smiling. Some are crowded around the bar, sipping on drinks.

“I’m just so excited,” said Tara Campbell-Davila, 49, of Hempstead. “I’ve been dying to watch the game.”

Knicks fever stretches to Amagansett for watch party

While kids are playing in the back, hundreds of fans are starting to find seats and fill in Amagansett Square’s outdoor area before the Knicks try to secure their first NBA Championship in 53 years.

From fans wearing Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire jerseys to Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart jerseys, there’s a vast contingent anxiously waiting for the projector to turn on and the game to tip off.

Fans cheered as Jalen Brunson nailed a 3-pointer for Knicks’ first points of the night.

Smithtown is in a New York state of mind

Knicks fans at Live On The Porch in Smithtown are kicking off their watch party celebrations with a live performance from musician Mike DelGuidice, who played in a Billy Joel cover band before joining Joel's band in 2013. 

“Mike has been a Long Island guy for a long time,” said Tim Vigneaux, from Nesconset. “Him opening this place for the Knicks watch party, then playing some music that represents New York, it’s just perfect.”

At 8:00 p.m., DelGuidice asked the crowd if they would like to switch to the pre-game, or if he should continue playing. In a dominating vote, Knicks fans opted for live music over the pregame show.

DelGuidice later left the stage after playing "Don’t Stop Believing" with one final message: “Lets go Knicks.”

“The pre-game show added a whole ‘nother level to it,” Valerie Schecher of Oakdale said. “It got us all excited.”

Adriana Bailey came back to her home of Long Island from Tennessee to cheer on the Knicks. Bailey is originally from Bethpage and moved to Tennessee four years ago, and she just got back to New York yesterday.

“I have been watching every game and hopefully tonight will be the one,” Bailey said.

What made Bailey choose Live on the Porch over other high-profile watch party locations was the performance of DelGuidice before the game.

“I have been following Mike for forever,” Bailey said. “This was the first time I saw him today, and it was beautiful.”

DelGuidice’s night did not end when he left the stage. He stayed to enjoy the game surrounded by Long Island Knicks fans. DelGuidice has been a Knicks fan for “a long time,” but he stopped watching for a while after the heartbreak of the Knicks losing the finals in 1999.

“I was so devastated that I stopped watching for a long time,” DelGuidice said. “This has really rejuvenated me getting back into watching the game.”

For him, not only would a championship matter to him because it is his home team, but because of the people he is surrounded by tonight.

“I think it would be incredible, to have it in this place, this vibe, the energy that's in here is unbelievable,” DelGuidice said. “I just hope that they do what they got to do, that they get it done.”

Doors are open at Radio City Music Hall

The doors are open at Radio City Music Hall.

Hundreds of Knicks fans were lined up outside for one of three Game 5 watch parties hosted by the Knicks. The excited crowd has been erupting into “Let’s Go Knicks” chants.

Alton Chinnery, 38, said he traveled all the way from South Carolina. A born-and-raised New Yorker, his dad brought him up as a Knicks fan, and he needed to “feel the vibes of the city” for the Finals.

“I’ve been a die-hard for at least 20-some years,” Chinnery said. “It means a lot to me. I’ll probably cry at some point.”

“They have the grit. They never quit,” he said of the current roster. “Knicks in 5.”

Knicks fans with tickets for Game 5 will be allowed in Frost Bank Arena

Knicks fans with tickets who traveled to Texas for Saturday night’s Game 5 in San Antonio will be allowed into Frost Bank Arena, Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

Reports earlier in the day suggested that Knicks fans with tickets would not be allowed into the game. Ticketmaster posted a message on its website stating that ticket sales for Game 5 “will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center.”

The message said residency would be based on credit card billing address. “Orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given,” the message added.

MSG Sports, however, confirmed that would not be the case.

“Contrary to prior reporting, we've confirmed with Spurs ownership that they will not be revoking any tickets that Knicks fans have to tonight's game in San Antonio and all ticket holders will be allowed into Frost Bank Arena,” the MSG Sports statement said. “We look forward to tonight's game.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a social media post earlier in the day that Ticketmaster and the Spurs should reverse the decision.

“Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled?” Hochul wrote. “Thousands of New Yorkers bought tickets, booked flights, and made plans in good faith. Ticketmaster and the Spurs should reverse this decision and let the fans who bought those seats keep them. Until then, on behalf of Knicks fans everywhere, I’m calling foul.”

Knicks fans lining up hours before the game

About three hours from the opening tip off, Knicks fans began to pour into bars surrounding Madison Square Garden.

At Mustang Harry’s, near W. 30th Street, dozens of Knicks fans were waiting to get inside at 5:30 p.m.

Merch, anyone? Some DICK's Sporting Goods stores on LI to reopen 'immediately' if Knicks win Game 5

Should the Knicks clinch a long-awaited title tonight, fans will be clamoring to get their hands on championship merch.
On Long Island and throughout the New York metro area, DICK’s Sporting Goods is bracing for the possibility. 

The retailer announced it would extend store hours at more than two dozen locations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and offer exclusive official championship items, from T-shirts to locker room hats.

On Long Island, the Bay Shore, Commack, Garden City, Lake Grove, Melville, Patchogue, Riverhead and Valley Stream stores would reopen “immediately” after a Knicks Game 5 victory, according to a news release.

Those stores would also open early at 7 a.m. on Sunday, the company said. Fans can also shop online.
Store managers and associates across Long Island said Knicks gear has been flying off the shelves during their historic run.

Sean McCourt, a front end manager at the Commack store, plans to watch the game from work this evening so he can be on hand to reopen if they win.

“We’ve been getting shipments of upwards of 20 boxes almost every day, and they're gone within the day,” McCourt said. “It’s been a madhouse.”

One they hope continues into the wee hours of Sunday.

Audience for Game 4 of Knicks-Spurs peaked at 23.2 million viewers

The historic Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs resulted in record viewership for ABC and ESPN.

The audience on Wednesday night peaked with 23.2 million viewers at 11:15 p.m., according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, as the Knicks were amid a stunning rally from a 29-point deficit. OG Anunoby’s tip-in completed the 107-106 victory, giving the Knicks the biggest comeback win in NBA Finals history.

It was also the most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998 with 20.9 million viewers and the most-watched Game 4 ever on ABC, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Game 4 viewership was also up 123% from last year’s Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.

The Knicks lead the series 3-1 and can clinch their first NBA title since 1973 on Saturday night in San Antonio.

Through four games, the Knicks-Spurs series is the most-watched NBA Finals ever on ABC and ESPN and the most-watched Finals since 1998, averaging 19.6 million viewers.

3 billion views and counting....

Saturday night's Game 5 to be shown on 130 sidewalk kiosks around New York City

Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night will be shown on 130 LinkNYC sidewalk kiosks around the city, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday.

His announcement, which came after the city secured telecast rights from the NBA, marks an expansion of a last-minute accommodation Mamdani made Wednesday night after Madison Square Garden, in a disagreement with the mayor’s office over public gathering restrictions nearby, abruptly canceled a planned watch party outside the venue.

“The Knicks belong to all New Yorkers, whether you’re watching from the Garden or not,” Mamdani said. “Earlier this week, New Yorkers gathered around LinkNYC kiosks to watch one of the greatest comebacks in basketball history. This weekend, we’re running it back. More than a hundred kiosks will turn our sidewalks into watch parties and our streets into celebrations. Knicks in Five."

The kiosks are about a decade sold and typically display ads, city trivia, municipal announcements and offer free WiFi.

Knicks' Game 4 comeback was very rare in NBA Finals history

It was a historic night at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks set an NBA Finals record by rallying from 29 points down to beat the Spurs in Game 4, 107-106, on OG Anunoby’s tip-in of a missed three-pointer by Jalen Brunson with about two seconds remaining in the game.

The comeback was indeed historic — and very rare. In fact, teams had rallied from a deficit of 20 or more points to win an NBA Finals game just two times before the Knicks made it three.

The Boston Celtics trailed the Los Angeles Lakers by 24 points in the first half and 20 points in third quarter of Game 4 of the 2008 Finals. The Lakers raced out to a 35-14 lead after the first quarter. The Celtics, however, outscored the Lakers by 24 points in the second half to secure the win and take a 3-1 lead in the series. The Celtics won the title in six games.

Before that, the Houston Rockets rallied from 20 points down to beat the Orlando Magic in Game 1of the 1995 Finals, 120-118 in overtime. The Rockets would go on to sweep the Magic.

The Knicks could make history again on Saturday night by becoming the third team to rally from a deficit of 20 or more points to win a Finals game and claim the title.

Knicks links: About last night

It was the biggest, and most improbable, comeback in NBA Finals history, capped by O(m)G.

They're gonna talk about Game 4 for generations.

Game 4's unlikely sparkplug? Look no farther than the hometown kid, Jose Alvarado.

Josh Hart isn't the biggest man on the court, but good luck getting a rebound against him.

It’s not the power of friendship that is the key here, but a connectivity between Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns that has grown over time together, one that allows the Knicks to flourish without jealousy.

'The dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization'

Charles Barkley held nothing back on "Inside the NBA" after the Spurs blew a 29-point lead in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. 

Taylor Swift, Ben Stiller and others react following Knicks' Game 4 win

Here are how the celebrities reacted at MSG following the Knicks' 29-point comeback win over the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Videos are courtesy of Newsday's William Pearlman.

The Celebrities are going wild after the #Knicks comeback win at MSG! Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Taylor Swift and Fat Joe! pic.twitter.com/jPysp2GEbL

— Newsday Sports (@NewsdaySports) June 11, 2026

OG caps the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history

The Knicks trailed by as many as 29 points in the game, as much as 20 in the fourth quarter, so naturally they won Game 4. Here's OG Anunoby with the go-ahead tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.

Big Shot Brunson

Knicks cut deficit to 15 going into 4th quarter

The Knicks outscored San Antonio 26-14 in the third quarter to make things interesting heading into the final 12 minutes at MSG.

Knicks trail by 27 points at halftime

The Knicks trail the Spurs, 76-49, after going 14-for-26 (53.8%) from three-point range in the first half.

Knicks start slow once again, trail Spurs by 19 after first quarter

Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fouls in the first minute and the Spurs put up 41 points during the opening 12 minutes in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

NBA Finals Game 3 ratings: Best in 28 years

The Knicks haven't been to the NBA Finals since 1999.

And the NBA hasn't seen Finals Game 3 ratings like what the Knicks and Spurs delivered on Monday night since 1998. (That was Bulls vs. Jazz in 1998, by the way.)

ABC and ESPN averaged 23.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel,  up 159% from last year’s Game 3. Monday's win by the Spurs peaked at 11:15 p.m. Eastern with 26.3 million viewers.

Through three games, this is ABC and ESPN’s second most-watched NBA Finals ever with an average of 19.1 million viewers. That's a 114% increase from last year's Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

Monday’s Game 3 on ABC and ESPN was the largest TV audience since Super LX in February. Major sporting events in that time span include the March Madness, the NFL Draft and the Masters, among others.

Game 2 of Knicks-Spurs averaged over 16 million viewers

The Knicks' 105-104 victory over the Spurs on June 5 was ABC’s most-watched NBA Finals Game 2 since 2018 – according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Game 2 generated an average audience of 16.43 million viewers and peaked with 19.42 million viewers at 11:15 p.m.

Viewership was up 88% from last year’s Game 2.

Game 2 on ABC was the most-watched program of the day across all of television and in all key male and adult demos for June 5.

Through two games, 2026 NBA Finals on ABC are averaging 16.68M viewers, up 89% year-over-year, making it the most-watched Finals through Game 2 since 2018.

Mike Brown not thrilled with free throw discrepancy

Here's part of Mike Brown's post-game.

Final score: Spurs 115, Knicks 111

The Knicks' 13-game playoff winning streak came to a end in a 115-111 loss to the Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Garden on Monday night.

Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points and added 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks.

It was the first loss for the Knicks since April 23 when they fell to the Hawks in the first round.

The Knicks lead the series, 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday night at the Garden.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points. OG Anunoby had 28.

Halftime: Knicks 64, Spurs 57

The Knicks erased another 12-point, first-half deficit to grab a 64-57 halftime lead in Game 3 at the Garden, which was hosting its first NBA Finals game since 1999.

The Knicks outscored the Spurs 42-22 in the second quarter and finished on a 10-1 run.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Jalen Brunson scored 15 points, and Josh Hart added 13 points and five rebounds.

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Victor Wembanyama had 15 points.

Who's on celebrity row at MSG for Game 3 (in-game edition)?

A look at who has way better than seats than the rest of us for Game 3 at MSG.

Trump arrives at MSG

The President’s homecoming arrived on the heels of the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran marking 100 days on Sunday and 37% of American adults approving of his performance according to the May 14 results of a poll conducted by the The Associated Press and the University of Chicago.

When he lived in Manhattan, Trump was “a fixture” at the Garden and “a genuine Knicks fan” who often sat courtside, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told the commentators of ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” who were seated on the court about 30 minutes ahead of tip-off.

“I think that what makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is it’s something that we have in common and we should look for those things that we have in common and build off that,” Silver said.

Other high-profile figures supporting the Knicks at the Garden Monday evening included Pete Davidson, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller.

Meanwhile, Trump’s visit sent parts of midtown Manhattan into paralysis. Subway passengers at 34th Street-Herald Square exiting trains found street exits blocked by the police. Citi Bike riders couldn't dock. Cyclists were forced to cram by close to the gutter. No vehicular traffic was allowed to pass. Cops from precincts around the city stood around and blocked frustrated pedestrians.

Famous faces at MSG for Game 3 (pre-game edition)

Have a look at the famous faces in attendance at MSG before the Knicks host the Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.

The MSG streets, before and after

Along the blocks surrounding Madison Square Garden, the presence of Donald Trump for Game 3 was apparent for hours in striking before-and-after photos.

In place of thousands buzzing around the Garden is, well, not much, according to images captured by TrafficCamPhotoBooth founder Morry Kolman, whose website taps into city traffic cameras to let users snap public selfies.

You can check out the cameras around the garden on this website: https://gardencam.wttdotm.com/

Lines, lines, everywhere a line

Hundreds of Knicks fans draped in orange and blue crowded on the sidewalk along Sixth Avenue more than three hours before tip-off.

Some expressed confusion at the airport-esque security line that stretched from the corner of West 32nd Street. Below the Garden at Penn Station, there was an enhanced police presence.

The escalators leading up from Penn Station were cordoned off, and travelers were directed to a West 33rd Street exit.

At around 5:10 p.m., NYPD officers began letting fans through a metal detector at the intersection of Sixth Ave and 32nd Street. Officers inspected fans as they passed through the metal detectors assembled on the closed-off street.

Fans then stood on another line across the street from the entrance to Madison Square Garden. From around 5:15 until 5:30, the line remained completely stagnant.

“Relax, the games not for another three hours,” an NYPD officer shouted.

“You guys told us to get here this early,” a fan shouted back jokingly.

NYPD officers then began screening fans as a “Let’s go Knicks” chant echoed through the street just after 5:30. The line shuffled towards another metal detector that scanned fans one at a time. Another line formed on the opposite sidewalk.

Outside the glass doors leading to Madison Square Garden’s usual security area at around 5:40, hundreds of fans waited for the doors to open.

It's Monday afternoon. Now how much do Game 3 Knicks tickets cost?

With six hours to go before tipoff, the lowest-priced resale tickets for Monday night's NBA Finals Game 3 at Madison Square Garden had dropped to about $4,000 after being offered for more than $10,000 two days ago.

Two seats were listed on TickPick Monday afternoon for $4,004 each. SeatGeek had seats being offered for as low as $4,169 while StubHub had standing room only tickets starting at $4,318.

The most expensive tickets listed were floor seats for $192,400 on SeatGeek.

Second row, though. Not first.

Final score: Knicks 105, Spurs 104

Even when Jalen Brunson has an off night, the Knicks find a way to win.

The Knicks won their 13th straight playoff game by beating the Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night in San Antonio.

The Knicks lead the series 2-0 and are two wins away from winning their first championship since 1973.

Brunson hit one of two three throws with 9.5 seconds left in the game to give the Knicks the lead. The Spurs had a chance to win, but Victor Wembanyama missed an open jump shot at the buzzer. Wembanyama finished with 29 points.

Brunson finished with 20 points on 7-of-25 shooting. He was averaging 27.1 points a game in the playoffs entering Game 2.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Mikal Bridges added 20 points, including some key buckets in the third quarter when both Brunson and Towns were on the bench.

Game 3 is Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Watch the final seconds of Game 2 thriller

Halftime: Knicks 56, Spurs 52

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 first-half points and pulled down 7 rebounds to help the Knicks grab a 56-52 lead at halftime in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at San Antonio.

The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Mikal Bridges chipped in 11 second-quarter points to help the Knicks take the lead heading into the locker room.

Jalen Brunson, who has been averaging 27.1 points per game in these playoffs, had 11 points on 3 of 11 shooting.

Josh Hart, who had 15 rebounds in Game 1, had no points and three rebounds and was called for a flagrant foul midway through the second quarter.

Mitchell Robinson (five points in six minutes) picked up a technical foul for shoving Victor Wembayama with about four and half minutes remaining in the half.

Wembanyama shot 2 of 4 for seven points with five rebounds.

Knicks-Spurs was most watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018

Game 1 of the NBA Finals had an average audience of nearly 17 million viewers, ABC’s most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018 – according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel.

The audience peaked at nearly 20 million viewers at 11 p.m.

It was the largest Game 1 audience on ABC ever, excluding the Golden State vs. Cleveland NBA Finals matchups.

Viewership was up 90% from last year’s Game 1, which also was the most-watched NBA Finals game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

Facts and figures from Game 1

Some statistical nuggets from Game 1, courtesy of Josh Dubow of the Associated Press on X:

• The only two Knicks to score 30+ points in Game 1 of an NBA Finals: Jalen Brunson (30 vs. Spurs tonight) and Willis Reed (37 vs. Lakers in 1970).

• Brunson has scored 30+ points in 47.4% (27 of 57) of playoff games with Knicks. The only players to score 30+ points at a higher rate with a single team (in 55 or more playoff games): Michael Jordan, 60.9% with the Bulls; Allen Iverson, 53.2% with the 76ers; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 52.7% with the Thunder; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 52.6% with the Bucks; LeBron James, 50.7% with the Cavs; Jerry West, 48.4% with the Lakers; James Harden, 48.2% with the Rockets.

• Josh Hart is the first player with 15+ rebounds, 6+ assists and 4+ steals in an NBA Finals game since Larry Bird in Game 3 of the 1986 Finals vs. the Rockets.

• The Knicks are the third team in the play-by-play era to come back from 14+ down in the second half to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The other two: the Pacers vs. the Thunder in 2025 (down 15) and the Celtics vs. Golden State in 2022 (down 15).

• The Knicks are the third team to win 12+ straight playoff games in a single postseason. The others: Golden State in 2017 (15 games) and the 1999 Spurs (12); both went on to win the title.

Final score: Knicks 105, Spurs 95

The Knicks are three wins away from their first NBA title since 1973 after knocking off the Spurs, 105-95, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Wednesday night in San Antonio.

Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter after having to leave the game late in the first quarter when he injured his knee.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Game 2 is Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in San Antonio.