Game 4 Watch Party Devolves Into Sudden Dolan-Mamdani Feud

By

Nia Prater,

Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politics

Game 4 of the NBA Finals was supposed to be a return to normalcy for New York Knicks fans. Once again, they would be allowed to gather for a public watch party outside Madison Square Garden, a ritual that was scuttled Monday in light of President Trump’s attendance at Game 3.

But the gathering is now reportedly off amid a sudden public feud between Knicks owner James Dolan and city officials around the size of the event and the continued use of a much-maligned security perimeter put into place before Trump’s visit. Dolan broke the news of the party’s apparent cancellation during an appearance on WFAN Wednesday afternoon, just hours before tip-off. “We’re not even putting up the screens,” he said.