From The Sports Desk: A raucous evening inside and outside Madison Square Garden

NBAFrom The Sports Desk: A raucous evening inside and outside Madison Square Garden NBC News reported on the ground, as the New York Knicks played their first NBA Finals home game in 27 years. Plus, Canada’s Alphonso Davies is today’s World Cup spotlight. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00New York Knicks fans watch the game on a laptop outside of a watch party at Bryant Park in New York on Monday.Adam Gray / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 9, 2026, 3:00 PM EDTBy Rohan Nadkarni, Amina Kilpatrick, Tim Rohan and Greg RosensteinNew York City is often said to be the center of the universe, and last night, at least in the sporting world, it was. Madison Square Garden hosted Game 3 of the NBA Finals, its first finals game in 27 years. President Donald Trump attended the game, as well as every celebrity in the tristate area, it seemed, and any fan who could afford a five-figure ticket.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.NBC News had correspondents inside and outside the building to capture the scene. Read more about it below and, as always, on the NBC News website. NBA FinalsGame 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals was literally unlike any other in league history.In addition to the New York Knicks playing in the championship round for the first time this century, Trump attended last night’s game, becoming the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals matchup. (Fans booed him mercilessly when he was shown on the video screen during the national anthem.)The combination of immense anticipation plus Trump’s presence created a unique atmosphere at Madison Square Garden. Fans who paid thousands of dollars for tickets waited in lines that stretched New York City streets to accommodate the security presence that Trump requires.Players themselves were required to undergo extra security measures when arriving at the arena, but the Knicks — who lost for the first time in 46 days — say the added po...