Chive. Alive. Thrive. Jive. Drive.
After the New York Knicks’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, fans have been forced to retire the instantly iconic chant created by 23-year-old fan MD Ahnaf Hossain: “My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish, my Christian Dior, Knicks in four.”
Online, fans have been coming up with all sorts of replacement rhymes:
The Knicks are leading 2-1 heading into Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, so they’ll need two more Ws to take the championship. Monday’s loss at Madison Square Garden broke a 13-game winning streak for the hometown team. Fans blamed everything from President Donald Trump’s presence to celebrity Jordyn Woods’ missing lucky purse to the officiating at the game.
But how are Knicks fans feeling IRL?
Not as triumphant as they were on Monday before the game. Bushwick resident Riley Erickson, 30, said he watched the game at his apartment, but still felt the vibe shift.
“We were fully planning on just going out to see what was happening in the city if we won,” he said. “I think pretty much everybody went home and had a chill night last night, whereas it's just been like drunk and ruckus for like two weeks straight now, which has been fun."
Still, he’s hopeful the first Knicks championship since 1973 is ahead. So is 73-year-old Maria John.
“Of course we can win. We have to win,” John said. “People deserve that. You know, New Yorkers have to be winners."
Heading into Game 4, New Yorkers should probably expect more of the same jubilation the city’s experienced on previous game days. Monday’s watch parties got a little out of control, leading to some arrests — so hopefully the exuberance is a bit more lawful this time around.
Expect a ton of fans around Madison Square Garden — this time, without a big extra security perimeter for a presidential visit.
Here are some other things to keep in mind:
Brandon Murray, Lucas Curbelo, Justin Delacruz, Trip Driscoll, all from Virginia, show off their Knicks pride Monday.
Want to be in the house?
The good news is ticket prices seem to be trending downward. On Tuesday, tickets on Stubhub could be had for an absolute bargain rate of $4,821 (lol). That’s much lower than over the weekend, when the minimum cost of entry to the same game was $11,814. So if you have it like that, snag a ticket now.
Will there be more watch parties?
If you don’t have nearly $5,000 to light on fire, there should be plenty of other energy-filled spaces to watch the game.
The only reason Monday’s MSG watch party was canceled was because of Trump’s attendance, and fans flocked to alternatives in Central and Bryant parks. The NYPD said the party outside of the Garden will be back in action for Wednesday's game, but tickets and security screenings will be required to enter. The NBA’s Finals Watch Parties webpage is going to be the place for official word.
Security shouldn't be as tight as it was for Game 3
As far as we know, President Donald Trump won’t be in attendance this time, meaning Secret Service-enhanced security — which tied up a 10-block radius around The Garden —, won’t be either. So if you’re attending the game at the arena or just trying to traverse the area on your commute, it shouldn’t be as chaotic as it was on Monday.
Win or lose, expect to see more of this sort of thing from Knicks fans Wednesday night. There was a lot of joy in the streets Monday, even with an eventual loss.
There are, of course, other watch parties all over the city
It seems like every business in New York City is hosting a watch party. There are some larger ones, like the Time Out Market New York in Dumbo, where admission is first-come, first-served. The Knicks also have a list of bars in their Official Playoff Bar Networks where fans can cheer on the team. But plenty of other businesses, including even a funeral home in Brooklyn, are hosting parties. Your best bet, in my opinion, is likely your favorite local bar with TVs.
Want to show your Knicks love?
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared Wednesday “Wear Blue and Orange Day” — meaning across government offices and schools, people are being encouraged to don the team colors. Something tells us you don’t need an official declaration to do the same.
“Nothing says ‘let’s go Knicks’ like blue and orange,” Mamdani said. “As our Knicks continue this historic run, we’re inviting New Yorkers to show their pride, wear the city’s colors and stand behind a team that has brought all of New York together.
How to watch at home
If you’re looking for a more relaxed viewing experience and want to watch from the comfort of your couch, you’ll be able to stream the games live on ABC, ESPN, or Amazon Prime Video.
