The Lede — Boos, Then a Stunner
A sitting president got the loudest reaction of the night, and it wasn’t applause. Donald Trump was booed at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, then watched the New York Knicks lose 115–111 to the San Antonio Spurs.
The defeat snapped New York’s 13-game playoff winning streak.
How the Night Unfolded at MSG
Trump, the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem as the crowd erupted in jeers.
He saluted as the boos turned to cheers the moment Jalen Brunson appeared on screen.
Heightened security forced TSA-style screening and two-hour entry lines, while the city’s outside watch party was scrapped.
The Knicks led by seven at halftime, but the Spurs — powered by Victor Wembanyama — outscored them by 11 after the break.
Afterward, Trump shrugged off the reception, calling it “mostly cheers.”
Fans flooded social media as the moment went viral.
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Trump is booed in Madison Square Garden pic.twitter.com/HoippauVCj
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 9, 2026Scores and Standout Stats
Here’s how the box score broke down at Madison Square Garden.
| NBA Finals — Game 3 (MSG) | Spurs | Knicks |
| Final Score | 115 | 111 |
| Field Goal % | 46.4% | 45.5% |
| Turnovers | 8 | 13 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 46 |
| Series (best-of-7) | 1 | 2 |
Top performers on the night:
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs): 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks, including 13 in the fourth quarter.
- Stephon Castle (Spurs): 23 points with the dagger three and the clinching free throws.
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks): 32 points and 5 assists, but 5 costly turnovers.
- OG Anunoby (Knicks): a team-best 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks): a quiet 11 points, his weakest game of the series.
Our Take
Our analysis suggests the boos were never really about basketball. New York remains firmly in control at 2-1, and a single loss on a night this charged means little in a best-of-seven.
We’d watch Victor Wembanyama, whose fourth-quarter surge looked like a superstar finding his moment.
If you’ve followed this NBA Finals, the Knicks are still the team to beat — but Game 4 on Wednesday just became must-see.
Our read: expect a furious response from Jalen Brunson and a far louder Garden.