Knicks in – With New York fans roaring across the city and celebrities filling courtside seats in San Antonio, the Knicks narrowed the pressure in pivotal Game 5 after the Spurs led 23-13 in the first quarter. Victor Wembanyama’s national anthem posture again became a fla
Chants of “Knicks in five!” echoed through San Antonio as the Knicks pushed into a pivotal Game 5. and back in New York the party started before most people even finished their first coffee. Fans flooded around Frost Bank Center for the Saturday matchup. while across the five boroughs New Yorkers hunting for their team’s first championship since 1973 packed bars and public watch parties.
Rush hour in New York usually clears out on Saturdays. This time it didn’t. Countless Knicks supporters and World Cup tourists clogged trains, subways and highways as the city prepared to watch. Outside Madison Square Garden. the Knicks hosted watch parties as well. though only 3. 000 ticketed fans were permitted within the NYPD’s “frozen zone” around the arena. Elsewhere. attendees at the theatre were allowed to watch on big screen televisions for $10 per person. with proceeds set to be donated to MSG’s Garden of Dreams foundation.
The energy in New York matched what was happening on the court in San Antonio. After blowing a 29-point lead in their historic Game 4 collapse at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. the Spurs and superstar Victor Wembanyama entered Game 5 facing elimination once again. This time. San Antonio jumped out early. taking a 23-13 edge at the end of the first quarter over the Knicks.
On the Knicks’ side, celebrity presence never seemed to waver through the early stretch. Timothée Chalamet was spotted standing and applauding in his first-row seat, alongside his influencer girlfriend Kylie Jenner. Actress Sydney Sweeney watched Game 5 with Knicks leading the series 3-1. and director Spike Lee was also among the familiar faces in San Antonio. The scene on social media captured New York fans arriving in San Antonio and then sending the atmosphere home—one woman posted on X with video of packed escalators rising from under Madison Square Garden. writing: “Never seen penn station this packed???”.
Even as the crowd leaned into the Knicks’ comeback history after winning four straight games earlier in the series. Wembanyama’s routine at the national anthem again pulled attention away from basketball. The Spurs star was seen with his arms folded during the national anthem before Game 5—an image that had drawn criticism in Games 1 and 2. and one he was conspicuously absent from during the anthem in Games 3 and 4 in New York. Online backlash returned quickly.
One angry fan wrote on X: “He’s trying to prove a point that he’s bigger than the National Anthem.” A second critic posted “WTF. ” alongside the phrase “Victor Wembanyama again standing with his arms crossed during the National Anthem!!” Another added: “It’s extremely disrespectful… You’re fortunate to enjoy the fruits of Capitalism in America. the greatest country in the world. Show some gratitude, or Leave!”.
The NBA requires all teams to stand in a dignified posture for the national anthem before every game. The league has, in recent years, taken a more passive approach to enforcement. The article points to NBA history for comparison: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of Denver was suspended one game for refusing to stand for the anthem in 1996. After George Floyd’s murder in 2020, the NBA allowed its players to kneel in protest of racist police brutality.
On Friday. the Daily Mail previously sought comment from the NBA about Wembanyama’s presence during the anthem and any potential penalty he could face. On Saturday. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pushed back on the controversy. saying players are often off the court during the anthem. “I think there’s plenty of players not on the floor during the anthem. I don’t know if that’s habit. superstition. bathroom… I don’t foresee anyone looking into it at all.”.
Back in New York, the stakes felt just as immediate as the basketball story unfolding in Texas. Fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden before Game 5. and in Central Park a watch party formed as the Knicks chased their third ever title. In Brooklyn. more supporters came out to watch the NBA Finals with the team aiming to close the gap—on a night when “Remember the Alamo” was drowned out by the louder. more urgent cry: “Knicks in five!”.
NBA Finals New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Game 5 Victor Wembanyama Jalen Brunson Mitch Johnson Timothée Chalamet Sydney Sweeney Kylie Jenner Spike Lee Garden of Dreams Madison Square Garden