A handful of Knicks fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to burn cleansing sage, hoping to purge whatever bad energy was left behind from Monday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Maybe it’s working, because New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on X.com Tuesday evening that a watch party for Game 4 is back on outside MSG.
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“We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4. More details soon,” Mamdani said. “As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence. Be safe, take care, and celebrate responsibly.”
This is seemingly another indication that President Donald Trump, who stirred up strong emotions by shutting down midtown so he could attend, will not return for Game 4.
ESPN’s Shams Charania had already reported Trump will not attend, citing “scheduling conflicts and obligations.”
Madison Square Garden Sports in a statement, though, said it has been told “that the NYPD will once again implement the same ‘frozen zone’ restrictions for Game 4,” even with Trump not attending.
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“The complete closing of areas around MSG is going to affect not only the celebration but also all the small businesses that rely on Garden fans for their livelihood,” MSG said.
Trump became the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game when he showed up at MSG on Monday at the invitation of Knicks owner James Dolan. He was booed when shown on the Jumbotron during the national anthem. His presence also forced the cancellation of the outdoor watch party outside MSG and triggered a security perimeter that had fans waiting two hours or more to get inside.
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet react in the first quarter between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet react in the first quarter between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Filmmaker Spike Lee looks on before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Kai Trump and United States president Donald Trump look on before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-1339870 ORIG FILE ID: 20260608_lbm_cb6_023.JPG
(Vincent Carchietta, Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
(L-R) Actors Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet look on during the first quarter of a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
A fan takes a cellphone photo of actor Timothee Chalamet before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Comedian Tracy Morgan and actor Timothée Chalamet look on prior to a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.
(Dustin Satloff, Getty Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Actor Timothee Chalamet looks on before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Former professional basketball player Jeremy Lin and filmmaker Spike Lee are interviewed by NBA Mexico before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Comedian Tracy Morgan (center) talks with Hall of Fame basketball player Patrick Ewing (left) before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller takes a photo with his mobile photo from courtside before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Former New York Knicks player Walt Frazier poses prior to Game Three between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.
(Dustin Satloff, Getty Images)
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Celebrities courtside as Knicks face Spurs in NBA Finals battle in NYC
Reverend Al Sharpton (left) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
General view before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
(Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images)
The Knicks had won 13 straight games before the Spurs snapped the streak, 115-111, and fans wasted no time blaming Trump on social media.
With the president staying away, New York City approved a permit for a ticketed watch party at Plaza 33 outside MSG on Wednesday night. Watch parties will also be held at Wollman Rink in Central Park and the Brooklyn Bowl.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani says Knicks watch party outside MSG back on for Game 4