Not to be outdone by Donald Trump, the celebrity Knicks fans were out in force for one of the most anticipated nights of sports in the history of New York.
Timothee Chalamet returned to take his courtside seat, dressed in an orange suit and sunglasses for the game against San Antonio Spurs. He did not have girlfriend Kylie Jenner with him for the big night, however, after taking her with him to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Cleveland last month.
Ben Stiller was there too, with his wife Christine Taylor – he was sat next to Chalamet when the game started. Earlier this year, Stiller hit out at Trump for using clips of his Tropic Thunder movie in a montage promoting America’s war against Iran.
Stiller wrote on X: ‘Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.’
Larry David, the Curb Your Enthusiasm creator who is another long-standing Trump critic, also had one of the best seats in the house for Game 3 of the Finals.
David once infamously mocked Trump supporters in an episode of his popular show by wearing a MAGA cap whenever he wanted to keep people away from him.
Timothee Chalamet was courtside for Spurs vs Knicks without girlfriend Kylie Jenner
Ben Stiller had one of the best seats in the house on a huge night for New York sports
Larry David was shown in his seat by ESPN around an hour before the start of the game
Other notable names included Jay Z, John McEnroe, Jason Bateman, Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Yankees baseball legend Derek Jeter.
It was a nervy start by the Knicks though, who looked to be feeling the pressure of so much anticipation. They were 11 points back, trailing 33-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Trump, a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan, was thunderously booed by the Knicks fans who joined him at MSG with the hottest ticket in town.
The President smirked as the booing rang out when he was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem. He was standing alongside Dolan and his eldest granddaughter, Kai.
The booing then quickly turned to cheers when the cameras flipped to Jalen Brunson, the star of this Knicks team trying to win its first NBA finals since 1973.
Trump’s attendance on Monday night had proved especially polarizing for Knicks fans due to the security measures that needed to be implemented to protect him.
Lines to get in were starting at least four blocks away from MSG, while metal detectors were set up 200 feet away from the venue that every fan would have to pass through, with the Secret Service watching on.
Trump protestors gathered near the venue, too, adding to the tension outside as tipoff neared.
Comedian Tracy Morgan waves to the Knicks fans after greeting Chalamet at the game
Spike Lee and Dave Chapelle posed for pictures with fans before the game began at MSG
The New York Police Department and Secret Service established a multiblock security perimeter around the arena and, controversially, canceled the hugely popular watch parties outside of the venue.
The NYPD even shut down every sidewalk and street from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue in a move halting all pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Game 4, back at the garden, is scheduled for Wednesday night.
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