New York. The anticipation surrounding the third game of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs reached a new level this Monday, after authorities reinforced security measures due to the possible attendance of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, at Madison Square Garden.
The situation caused the cancellation of the traditional “watch party” that was scheduled to be held outside the venue and which would have brought together thousands of fans without tickets to enjoy the atmosphere of the Finals.
The duel, which will mark the first game of the series in New York, arrives with the Knicks comfortably leading 2-0 after winning in San Antonio, leaving the historic New York team just two victories away from winning the championship.
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However, the media focus quickly shifted to the massive security operation surrounding the event. The Knicks franchise reported that access controls at Madison Square Garden will be much stricter than usual and urged attendees to arrive at least two hours in advance.
High ticket prices had motivated hundreds of fans to organize themselves to follow the match from outside the stadium, replicating the celebratory atmosphere experienced in previous matches. However, the event was unexpectedly suspended.
The cancellation generated conflicting versions between the authorities and the venue’s administrators. The New York Police Department (NYPD) stated that the decision was related to Secret Service protocols in the event of a presidential presence.
For their part, representatives of Madison Square Garden denied that the measure was directly linked to Trump and pointed out that it was the New York City mayor’s office that did not authorize the necessary permits for the mass gathering of fans on public roads.
If the presence of the American president is confirmed, it would be the first time in history that a sitting president attends an NBA Finals game, a fact that would add even more international attention to a series already charged with sporting emotions.
Meanwhile, the Knicks will try to take advantage of home-court advantage to get closer to the long-awaited title against some Spurs who are forced to react to stay alive in the series.
