Game 3 at MSG Was Already Going to be Wild — Now Add Trump

By

Nia Prater,

Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politics

The New York Knicks extended their fairy-tale championship run with flair Wednesday night, overcoming a 14-point deficit and a brief injury scare for star point guard Jalen Brunson to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Anticipation is building for their first home game of the Finals on Monday — following one more game in San Antonio — and new reporting has confirmed that one prominent quasi fan of the team intends to be at Madison Square Garden for the spectacle.

The New York Post reported Wednesday that President Trump is planning to come to the Garden for game three, the first Finals home game the Knicks have hosted in 27 years. Sources tell the Post that the storied arena has already conducted security walk-throughs in anticipation of the president’s attendance but noted that his plans are subject to change. The Athletic also confirmed that Trump is likely to be there on Monday night, which would make him the first president to attend an NBA Finals game. President Barack Obama, who was known for his love of basketball and yearly March Madness bracket, was the last president to attend an NBA game while in office when he watched his Chicago Bulls defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015.