Knicks' festive watch parties shift from MSG to a larger venue for rest of playoffs: sources
Out of the garden and into the park.
The New York Knicks' raucous watch parties outside Madison Square Garden — where thousands of rowdy fans celebrated the milestone victory over the Boston Celtics Friday — are moving to a bigger venue as the team hopes to keep dominating in the playoffs, according to sources.
Die-hard fans can now rally in the heart of Central Park to show their orange-and-blue pride as the team moves its official watch party to SummerStage on Friday, sources told The Post.
There will be no charge to attend.
4 The New York Knicks' raucous watch parties will be moved to a bigger venue Friday.
James Keivom
Sources said additional efforts are being made to expand the frenzied events throughout the Big Apple as the Knicks kick off the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, which eliminated the long-downtrodden franchise in a seven-game series in the second round last year.
This is the Knickerbockers' first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.
Sources said the decision to relocate the game-time gatherings to a larger arena was made before roughly 30,000 euphoric fans took over Seventh Avenue to celebrate the Game 6 win over the Celtics Friday.
4 The watch party will take place Friday at Central Park's SummerStage, sources said.
James Keivom
4 The decision to relocate the game-time gatherings was made before thousands of fans took over Seventh Avenue Friday.
James Keivom
Knicks devotees were captured on social media scaling light poles, with others climbing on top of a taxi kiosk during the post-game party. Another fan lit a Celtics jacket on fire and held it over his head.
Famous lifelong Knicks fan Spike Lee was spotted sticking his head out of a car window to join the festivities while fellow superfan, Timothée Chalamet, was mobbed by fans leaving the game.
There will be no outdoor watch party as Game 1 kicks off at MSG Wednesday night — with festivities moved to Radio City Music Hall.
4 Wednesday's watch party is being held at Radio City Music Hall.
James Keivom
Admission was $10 and proceeds will benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
Game 2 of the series will continue Friday night before the playoffs shift to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
The storylines to watch for in Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals battle
The Knicks got as close to reaching the NBA Finals as they have in a quarter century, but the league title once again will be decided without them. While the Knicks sort out their coaching situation with the firing of Tom Thibodeau following their Eastern Conference finals loss to Indiana, the Pacers will square off with the rolling Thunder with both teams looking to be crowned as the champions for the first time in their respective cities. (Note: The Thunder franchise did win it at all as the Seattle Supersonics in 1979, but this would mark their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008). Here are 10 storylines to follow beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night in OKC: First things first The Pacers joined the NBA in the 1976 merger with the ABA, and this only marks their second trip to the NBA Finals — and first since Reggie Miller & Co. lost in 2000 to the Lakers of Kobe, Shaq and Phil Jackson. Indiana previously won three ABA titles in the 1970s. 7 The Pacers will need Tyrese Haliburton to have a big NBA Finals against the favored Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images The Thunder reached the championship round in 2012 led by young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden before losing in five games to the Heat. One of these cities is going to get a victory celebration for the first time. That's the point All eyes will be on the scintillating matchup between two All-Star point guards, Knicks killer Tyrese Haliburton and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA will look to become the first regular-season MVP to cop an NBA title in the same season since Stephen Curry pulled off the feat with the Warriors in 2015. He is averaging 29.6 points per game during the Thunder's 12-4 march through the Western Conference. 7 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be expected to have a strong NBA Finals for the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images It's much harder for anyone to chant 'overrated' anymore at Haliburton after he has fronted his team to five playoff round victories in the past two years. He leads the NBA in postseason assists (9.8), including 15 with no turnovers in his Game 4 triple-double against the Knicks. Once a Knick … A final four that also featured Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo with the Timberwolves has resulted in each finalist boasting a former Knick in a rotational role. Former lottery pick Obi Toppin put up 18 points with three blocked shots to help extinguish the Knicks in Game 6. 7 Former Knick Obi Toppin has been a key contributor for the Pacers throughout the playoffs. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Isaiah Hartenstein posted career-highs in points and rebounds in the first season after leaving the Knicks for a three-year, $87 million deal in free agency. The age-old question Whichever teams grabs the title will boast the youngest average age of any champion since the Lakers in 1980 (25.7). The Thunder's average age is 24.7 years, and the Pacers are not far behind at 26.2 The 1977 Trail Blazers hold the record since the NBA/ABA merger with an average age of 24.5 years. 7 Former Knicks Isaiah Hartenstein has had a big year for the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images The 1A stars Pascal Siakam, and not Haliburton, was named MVP of the Eastern Conference finals with 24.8 points per game against the Knicks. The three-time All-Star forward also owns a championship ring from the 2019 Raptors. Third-year wing Jalen Williams — not to be confused with lesser-used teammate Jaylin Williams — provides OKC with viable No. 2 scoring option to Gilgeous-Alexander with 20.4 points per game in the playoffs, including 34 with six made 3-pointers in Game 4 against Minnesota. 7 Jalen Williams, talking with the media on June 4, 2025, is the second scoring option for the Thunder. AP Heady company Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who won a championship with the Mavericks in 2011, could become only the fourth head coach in NBA history to win at least one ring with multiple franchises. The 65-year-old Carlisle would join Alex Hannum (Hawks, 76ers), Pat Riley (Lakers, Heat) and Phil Jackson (Bulls, Lakers). Only four teams in NBA history won more regular-season games than the 68 posted by Mark Daigneault's Thunder this season. 7 Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle celebrates after the Pacers' Eastern Conference-clinching Game 6 win over the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images Oh, Canada While the Edmonton Oilers are trying to become the first Canadian-based NHL team to win a Stanley Cup since the Canadiens in 1993, the Great White North will be well-represented in the NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander became the seventh consecutive MVP winner born outside the United States. Lockdown OKC defender Lu Dort also hails from Canada, as do Pacers teammates Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. Either way, this will be the fourth straight year at least one Canadian will be part of the title-winning squad. Turner overdrive 7 Myles Turner looks on during Pacers practice on June 4 2025 in preparation for the NBA Finals which begins on Thursday. NBAE via Getty Images The most prominent pending unrestricted free agent on either side is longtime Indy big man Myles Turner, who is registering a league-best 2.3 blocked shots per game in the postseason among players with at least five appearances. The 6-foot-11 Turner didn't post any 20-point games against the Knicks after doing so four times in 10 games in the first two rounds against Milwaukee and Cleveland, but he's shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range. OKC big man Chet Holmgren is right behind Turner with 2.0 blocks per game in the playoffs. Home sweet home Road teams have won plenty of games in this postseason, but OKC has won eight of nine at Paycom Center, with an average margin of victory of 24.6 points, including a 51-point blowout of Memphis in the first round. The Pacers took the first two games at Madison Square Garden, after winning three times in Cleveland the previous round. The real pacemakers If Knicks fans thought Indy played at a frenetic race-track pace, the Thunder actually led the NBA in that advanced metric during the regular season with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes of play, and they have been slightly better than the Pacers in that category in the playoffs, as well. These two teams also lead the NBA in points off turnovers per game in the postseason, with the Thunder again holding the edge. Get ready for Showtime in both directions.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Jaylen Brown as top option, Jrue Holiday's trade value, more: Celtics mailbag, Part 1
The Boston Celtics wanted to begin the NBA Finals this week but are staring at an uneasy offseason instead. With Jayson Tatum in the early stages of a long injury rehabilitation and Brad Stevens set to confront his roster's financial predicament, the summer should bring significant change. It's a good time to answer questions from the readers. Here's Part 1 of our Celtics mailbag. Questions have been lightly edited for style, grammar and clarity. Assuming Jaylen Brown's still on the roster for the 2025-26 season, this would be his first season as 'The Guy' on the Celtics. Could you predict his stat line for the season and would that include any offseason awards/honors? — Grant G. Brown's development as a primary playmaker should leave him more prepared now to be 'the guy' than he was at any other point in his career. He set a career high with 6.6 assists per 100 possessions this season, and a look under the hood shows an even more promising outlook. When he was on the court without Tatum, Brown averaged 9.6 assists per 100 possessions, which would have ranked in the top 20 league-wide. Over three games without Tatum in the playoffs, Brown averaged 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game — and he did that with a banged-up knee. He looked capable of handling more responsibilities than he would ever carry with Tatum alongside him. Advertisement How would Brown do in that role for a full season? How would he do in that role without as much talent around him because the Celtics need to shed significant salary this summer? Brown would have a chance to prove he can handle life as the No. 1 option. I would estimate that he would average 25 points, six rebounds and six assists, which would be enough to land him on an All-NBA team if Boston wins enough games. Has Brad given up on Kristaps Porziņģis being someone he can count on in terms of playing at full strength when it matters? — Jeff M. The playoffs were a disaster for Porziņģis. While fighting through lingering symptoms of a virus, he shot an abysmal 31.6 percent from the field and was ineffective on both ends of the court. The Celtics were 18.7 points per 100 possessions better without Porziņģis on the floor during the second round and probably should have cut his minutes further if not entirely. His inability to function normally wasn't the only factor that sank them, but it was one of the biggest holes in their ship. Because Porziņģis ended the season with such a splat, it's easy to forget he played some of his best basketball with the Celtics late in the regular season. After his initial bout with the illness sidelined him for eight consecutive games from late February to mid-March, he averaged 22.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game over his next nine appearances, shooting 53.9 percent from the field, including 46.2 percent on 3-point attempts. The Celtics outscored opponents by 19.2 points per 100 possessions with Porziņģis on the court during that stretch. It's hard to believe the same guy who effortlessly flicked away the Knicks with 34 points during the final week of the regular season failed to score more than 8 points in any playoff game against them, but Porziņģis wasn't the same throughout the postseason. Does that mean the Celtics should give up on him entirely? Probably not. He had reasons for floundering in the playoffs. Before then, he had produced for Boston whenever he was healthy. Advertisement It would be natural for the Celtics to have reservations about Porziņģis' ability to stay on the court, but other teams will have those same reservations. If the Celtics trade him now, they would be doing so at a low value when he might just need a little time to rest and recover to look like himself again. They could explore moving him anyway (just about anyone on their roster could be on the table), but he probably has plenty of good basketball left in him. He just didn't have any of that good basketball to give during the playoffs. Please explain to me what the Celtics see in Jordan Walsh. I watch a lot, and he was nothing. Even the advanced stats are terrible (e.g., 112 defensive rating last year). Do they have to keep him for a third year? If so, could they hide him in the G League? — Frank F. Walsh turned 21 shortly before the regular season ended. He entered the league as a real project on offense and has played only 486 NBA minutes over his first two seasons. Most of those minutes have either come in garbage time or when he was unexpectedly thrown into the rotation. It would be unfair to judge his future based solely on what he has shown so far (also, defensive rating is not an individual statistic). That said, as you implied, he hasn't proved he deserves consistent minutes yet. Walsh could get them anyway. While there isn't much positive to Tatum's torn Achilles, Walsh and Baylor Scheierman should benefit from the additional runway coming for them. Tatum's injury alone will open up about 37 minutes per game, and further roster moves could leave more opportunity on the perimeter. The Celtics should get a much better look at each of their young wings. When the Celtics drafted Walsh in 2023, they were extremely high on his defensive potential. Nothing he has done should change that. He has long arms, good instincts and quick enough feet to stay in front of much smaller players. He still needs to develop a better outside shot and more confidence in his entire offensive game, but he has the look of a developing stopper. While the Celtics are without Tatum for most of next season, if not all of it, Walsh should get a chance to learn in prime time instead of behind the scenes. Is there any avenue for the Celtics to acquire the No. 1 pick in this year's draft? — Jack J. Any shot we get Cooper Flagg? — Connor N. You know how the saying goes: Shoot for Cooper Flagg. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. Or something like that. Advertisement I love how high fans reach. But no. The Mavericks could make sense as a trade partner for Boston (more on that soon), but not for the top pick. I suspect general manager Nico Harrison is likely done making indefensible moves for at least a little while. I keep seeing people say that Brad Stevens is going to have to attach picks to trade Jrue Holiday. I can't help but think that the people making basketball decisions still look at what Jrue brings to a team and see real value. I get that the contract gets tougher to justify at the very end, but the dude is the ultimate glue guy. Do you believe that he still has stand-alone value, or do the Celtics need to add to the trade package if they want to trade him? — Jacob E. Who do you think would be the most interesting trade partner this offseason? — Cody C. For the sake of this mailbag, I'll combine these two questions into a single answer. Holiday remains a top defensive guard. He is an elite locker room influence. Though he turns 35 next week, he is the type of veteran good teams value. The end of his contract might not be pretty (he has a player option for $37.2 million in 2027-28), but he takes good care of his body. He could age well if he can avoid the various minor injuries he dealt with this season. (Maybe he can't. As he said at one point during the season, he's old.) There will be a market for him. Among other teams, the Mavericks could make a lot of sense. We already know how Harrison feels about defense after he repeatedly said it wins championships. His team could use an extra ballhandler while Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL and a defensive-minded backcourt presence to play alongside Irving once he returns. With Flagg set to join Anthony Davis in a deep frontcourt, the Mavericks have a chance to field a special defense. Adding Holiday would only turn that group into more of a problem for opponents. Good luck scoring on him with Davis and Flagg behind him. Making the trade partner an even more logical fit, the Mavericks have a surplus in the frontcourt with Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively and P.J. Washington competing for minutes, plus some young players such as Max Christie who could appeal to Boston. The Celtics' desire to shed salary would complicate any trade, but any team that considers Holiday the missing piece would be motivated to find a deal. Assuming normal health from Brown and Derrick White … in the East, the Celtics still seem like no worse than a six seed, right? How do you think that impacts Brad's approach re: the idea of semi-tanking? — Aaron M. Even if the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, the Cavaliers, Knicks and Pacers would all be good bets to finish ahead of the Celtics. The young Pistons and Magic could be due for jumps, as well, and some other teams such as the 76ers and Hawks will have a chance to be pretty good. I don't think the Celtics would be promised a top-six finish if they return most of their players, but that would be a feasible outcome for them in that case. Will they return most of their players, though? Luke Kornet and Al Horford are free agents and Horford didn't close the door on retirement at exit interviews. Even if the front office intends to be as competitive as possible next season, the team's financial position suggests that at least one starter will be traded. If Horford and Kornet also walk, that would leave the Celtics down three important pieces already, plus Tatum. Even if Tatum does return late next season, he would likely be significantly diminished while playing his way back from the injury. The Celtics would be getting something back in any big trade (or trades), but a significant fall down the standings still wouldn't be out of the question. Advertisement Would Stevens 'semi-tank,' as you put it? I don't know if that's the right word for it, but the Celtics could absolutely reshape their roster with a focus on building a contender for two seasons from now when Tatum figures to be healthier. They would have prioritized the present with a healthy Tatum, but his injury changed the calculus on a lot of decisions for the organization. I'm not sure exactly what changes that shift will produce, but it will be a fascinating offseason.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
This Week in Sports Trivia: June 5, 2025
For Tom Thibodeau, reaching the Eastern Conference finals was not enough. The coach discovered that harsh reality on Tuesday, when the New York Knicks showed him the door. Thibodeau was just the latest NBA coach with a track record of success to lose his job this season, joining Michael Malone (Nuggets) and Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies). Thibodeau's firing was even surprising enough that Rick Carlisle, whose Indiana Pacers ended the Knicks' season, said he thought the news was 'one of those fake AI things.' It was all too real. Advertisement Still, the sports world kept on spinning this week, and the news wasn't all negative, with the Pacers taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, and the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers locking horns in the Stanley Cup Final. Heck, even the Colorado Rockies, who entered the week with a 9-50 record, went on a heater of sorts. All of that is included in our latest news quiz, so we hope you've been paying attention. Good luck, and if you have a moment, you should play our daily Connections: Sports Edition, too! (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; top photos: Emilee Chinn, Sarah Stier, William Purnell, Megan Briggs, Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
