Celebrities Fill Courtside Seats for Knicks-Pacers Game 5 in NYC

NEW YORK CITY, NY — Stars flocked to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. Among the A-listers were actor Timothée Chalamet, his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, and actor Miles Teller with his wife Keleigh. The couples were seen holding hands while making their way to their seats.

Also present were Knicks superfans Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Tracy Morgan, who showed support for the home team in what is being called the biggest game in Knicks history. Television personalities Gayle King and Michael Strahan were spotted courtside as well, enjoying the excitement of playoff basketball.

Before the game, Spike Lee, dressed in his signature orange and blue striped suit, expressed his commitment to the Knicks during the “NBA on TNT” pregame show. “I would give up an Academy Award for the Knicks to win a Championship,” he said. Charles Barkley humorously replied, “Well you’re gonna keep ’em!” referencing Lee’s two Oscar awards.

Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was also seen at the game, joining the star-studded crowd. Throughout the Eastern Conference finals, there has been no shortage of celebrity presence in both New York and Indiana. Chalamet, Stiller, and Lee had previously traveled to Indianapolis where the Pacers defeated the Knicks 130-121.

Madison Square Garden remains famous for its unique celebrity row, especially during the playoffs. According to former Knicks PR chief Joe Favorito, tickets are invite-only and generally reserved for A-listers and dedicated Knicks fans. The hype around the celebrity attendance is heightened in New York due to both the history of celebrity row and the legacy of the iconic venue.

Despite the excitement, not everyone is focused on the stars in the audience. Boomer Esiason, speaking on his radio show, suggested that the Knicks might perform better on the road away from the high-profile crowd. “They hate playing in front of these people,” Esiason remarked, emphasizing the need for players to focus on teamwork while on the court.

The Knicks entered the game needing a win to avoid elimination from the playoffs, facing off against the Pacers and their two-time All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has been a key player in closing moments of the series. The outcome of Game 5 will determine which team moves on to battle the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA title on June 5.