Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks are mad at the New York Police Department and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for not letting them throw a big enough party for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
In a statement released Tuesday, the team called NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mamdani the city’s “biggest party poopers” for putting security restrictions around the Garden for Wednesday night’s contest against the San Antonio Spurs. While the city has approved a watch party, the venue is complaining that the level of security is unnecessary.
“The last several victories the Knicks have had have been celebrated by thousands and thousands outside MSG. The joy and happiness were palpable everywhere,” a statement from the venue said. “Apparently Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch, despite what they say, don’t want to see these celebrations happen.”
There were significant security measures in place for Monday’s Game 3 because President Donald Trump attended the game. Those measures included a steel fence, limited access points and limits on what attendees could bring to the game.
As an additional security measure, a watch party that had been scheduled for outside MSG was moved to Bryant Park. Even so, that event, which attracted an estimated crowd of 7,000, was pockmarked by violence and rowdiness after the Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the Spurs. More than 20 people were taken into custody, five NYPD officers were injured and video footage showed people in San Antonio Spurs attire being verbally and physically harassed.
Police confirmed to The Athletic that the Knicks applied for and received a permit from the city to host a Game 4 watch party outside the Garden. The Knicks’ permit request was for 500-1,000 people, and they were granted the top limit, an NYPD spokesperson said. One thousand fans will be able to attend with a ticket.
“For Game 4, we do expect watch parties outside Madison Square Garden to resume,” Tisch said during a news conference on Monday. “Those watch parties will be managed with pens and screening, and we do anticipate the same security perimeter for safety purposes. We will have more to say about those plans in the days ahead.”
Entrants will need tickets to attend, and there is no reentry allowed, the mayor’s office and NYPD said. There will also be restrictions around MSG, with one entry point for the watch party and another four for fans who have tickets to the game.
NEW YORK: We’re back outside the Garden.
We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4. More details soon.
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,…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) June 9, 2026
“New Yorkers are understandably passionate about the Knicks, and the overwhelming majority of fans watched the game last night in ways that were both safe and fun,” said Sam Raskin, a spokesperson for the city. “But the fights and other disruptive incidents — including assaults on police officers — in various parts of the city are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The team and MSG lashed out at those limitations in Tuesday’s statement.
“We have been told that the NYPD will once again implement the same ‘frozen zone’ restrictions for Game 4, which were supposedly to thwart any threats related to the President’s attendance. We now know these restrictions were never about the President — it was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate. … These celebrations are part of the heart and soul of New Yorkers. The actions of the Mayor and Police Commissioner, supposedly in support of the Knicks and their fans, are difficult to understand. We urge them to lift these restrictions and embrace the love of the team.”
In March, Knicks owner James Dolan and MSG launched a campaign thanking NYPD officers. Now, they’re fighting with the police commissioner over security rules they don’t like during the NBA Finals.
The Spurs took a close 115-111 victory over the Knicks on Monday to put the series at 2-1, but New York still holds the lead. Spurs star Victor Wembenyama put up 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson logged 32 points, five rebounds and five assists. New York also got big minutes from OG Anunoby, who had 28 points and five rebounds.
Tip-off for Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
— Carson Kessler and Fred Katz contributed to this story.
