The New York Knicks fans at a watch party for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19, 2026, in New York. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images On Wednesday, when the New York Knicks return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Madison Square Garden will be rocking — even if Game 1 takes place 1,820 miles southwest at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
By virtue of being the lower seed in their respective conference, the San Antonio Spurs get Game 1 (and 2, and 5 and 7 if necessary) at home. But that doesn’t mean New Yorkers are staying in tonight. The New York Police Department has approved a permit for a watch party outside of MSG on Plaza 33, the NYPD public information officer told The Hollywood Reporter. There were no watch parties on the premises for the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Knicks dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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An additional outdoor watch party is set for SummerStage in Central Park. Knicks alumni will make appearances at all the official watch parties, the team says.
It will be a beautiful night for a Knicks win. Come game time, it will be high 60s in New York City.
There will also be a watch party inside Madison Square Garden on the Jumbotron. Tickets cost $10 with the net proceeds going to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. The Knicks also plan to auction off two Game 3 (Monday, June 8) “Celebrity Row” seats to benefit the same charity. So reel in the manspreading thing a bit, Timothée Chalamet.
“The Garden of Dreams Foundation is the most important work that we do at the Madison Square Garden Family of Companies, and we are proud that this Foundation has made a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of youth across the tri-state area,” James Dolan, the executive chairman and CEO of MSG Sports, said in an announcement on Tuesday. “Offering Celebrity Row seats for the NBA Finals at The Garden presents an unforgettable opportunity for fans, while supporting an organization that truly changes lives for the better.”
Tonight will be a big test for the Knicks, and not just because they’re taking on 7’4″ French phenom Victor Wembanyama in enemy territory. By virtue of sweeping both the Cavs and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Eastern Conference champs haven’t laced up (for a game) in nine days; the Spurs ended the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season just this past Saturday. Rest is great, but rust is real.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off Wednesday night at 8:30 pm. ET on ABC.
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