By Tiffany Williams –
NEW YORK — Security will be significantly increased at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night as President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio.
The New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden announced enhanced entry procedures for fans attending what will be the franchise’s first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999.
The NYPD also confirmed that a watch party originally planned outside Madison Square Garden has been canceled.
“There will be no watch party outside MSG on Monday. This decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service. There will be watch parties at other locations, which are currently being determined,” an NYPD spokesperson said.
Fans attending Game 3 are being encouraged to arrive well in advance of tip-off due to additional security measures that will be in place throughout the evening.
According to the team, guests entering Madison Square Garden should expect TSA-style screening procedures and a strict no-bag policy.
“Fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum,” the team wrote in a statement. “Fans should expect enhanced security measures when entering Madison Square Garden, including TSA-style screening procedures. Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive at least two hours before tip-off to allow additional time for screening and entry.”
Entry procedures are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, two hours before the scheduled start of Game 3.
The heightened security comes as the Knicks return home holding a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals after winning the first two games of the series in San Antonio.
New York is now just two victories away from capturing its first NBA championship since 1973.
The Knicks have also won 13 consecutive postseason games dating back to Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against Atlanta, giving them the second-longest postseason winning streak in NBA history.
Trump’s expected attendance adds another historic element to an already significant night for the franchise.
According to the report, Trump was invited by Knicks owner James Dolan and would become the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
He would also become the first president to attend an NBA game since former President Barack Obama attended an opening-night game in 2015 featuring the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected to attend Monday night’s game.
According to the report, Mamdani has already stated that he will not be seated near Trump during the event.
The anticipated appearance continues a recent trend of Trump attending major sporting events since returning to office in 2024.
Over the past year, Trump attended the FIFA Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, where he participated in the trophy presentation ceremony. He also attended the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, the U.S. Open Final in Flushing Meadows, and a New York Yankees game in the Bronx.
For Madison Square Garden, the combination of the NBA Finals, a sold-out crowd, and the expected presence of a sitting president has prompted one of the most extensive security operations in recent memory at the arena.
Fans planning to attend Monday night’s game are being urged to arrive early and prepare for additional screening procedures as the Knicks attempt to move one step closer to ending a championship drought that has lasted more than five decades.