Donald Trump booed by fans during NBA Finals Game 3 in New York

Donald Trump made history as the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, sitting in the owner’s suite at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. His presence triggered heightened security, long queues and the relocation of the usual fan‑zone outside the arena. As the national anthem played and his image appeared on the jumbotron, sections of the crowd responded with loud boos and anti‑Trump chants.

The game ended with the Knicks losing 111‑115, giving the Spurs a 2‑1 series lead. Knicks coach Mike Brown publicly criticized a stark disparity in free‑throw attempts in the second half—24 for the Spurs versus eight for the Knicks—calling it “hard to overcome.”

High ticket prices, celebrity attendees and protests added to the drama, but the on‑court result and the free‑throw controversy dominated post‑game analysis.