The atmosphere surrounding the New York Knicks’ first home game in the NBA Finals since 1999 was always going to be crazy.
Throw in an appearance by President Donald Trump and the usual celebrities who’ve publicly supported the Knicks for years and you have a recipe for complete chaos.
Not surprisingly, a planned public watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the Finals was abruptly canceled for security reasons, depriving fans who couldn’t afford the sky-high ticket prices of a chance to get as close as possible to the action.
But with Trump unlikely to attend Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10, will the watch parties return in full force?
More: Did Trump fall asleep at NBA Finals? Clips spark online debate
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Members of the U.S. Secret Service patrol outside at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Members of the U.S. Secret Service patrol outside at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
People gather outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
A heavy police presence is seen outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
An impersonator of U.S. President Donald Trump holds a basketball outside at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
New York Knicks fans wait for actor and comedian Druski, for an event which was cancelled by NYPD, at Washington Square Park ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
US Secret Service agents patrol outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
New York Police Department officers gather outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Secret Service agents patrol outside Madison Square Garden during Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
New York Knicks fans and New York Police Department officers gather outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
People walk near a security fence around Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Concrete barriers arrive by truck to Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
People walk near a security fence around Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
A Secret Service sign on a security fence at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Members of the U.S. Secret Service walk the perimeter of a security fence outside of Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Members of the U.S. Secret Service enter through a security fence outside of Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Concrete barriers arrive by truck to Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
Concrete barriers are taken off a truck at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
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New York on high alert outside Garden before NBA Final
A person is interviewed by media next to a security fence outside of Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. The New York City Police Department and Secret Service have cancelled a NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
(Adam Gray, Getty Images)
Will NYC have watch parties for Game 4?
The answer is most likely, yes.
Several watch parties officially sanctioned by the NBA did take place for Game 3, including ones at Central Park, Bryant Park and the Brooklyn Bowl. However, things did turn violent as fights broke out at the Bryant Park location, resulting in 21 arrests.
New York Knicks fans gather at Bryant Park to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Still, with the overwhelming community support for the Knicks, watch parties will likely continue for every Finals game remaining both home and away, including the return of one outside Madison Square Garden.
The NBA has a dedicated web page for Finals watch parties. As of Tuesday morning, the information for Game 3 has all been deleted and replaced with “Check back soon for upcoming information on Game 4 Watch Parties!”
This information will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Finals watch parties in New York likely to continue for Game 4
