5 ways Trump and Mamdani could affect Knicks NBA Finals game tonight

New York City is preparing for a big night Monday: a Knicks home game in the NBA Finals, taking place right in Madison Square Garden.

But everyday New Yorkers should expect some changes this matchup as both Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump will attend the game.

Here’s five things you need to know before the jump ball.

Madison Square Garden’s outside watch party, where thousands of fans are known to get rowdy, was cancelled this weekend after the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD determined that security requirements were too high.

Don’t fret, however. Other watch parties are being held at Central Park and at Brooklyn Bowl, with a new location added at Bryant Park.

“The Bryant Park watch party was added by Mamdani after the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD determined that a watch party could not be held outside Madison Square Garden due to the heightened security requirements associated with President Trump’s attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals,” a release on the move said.

The NBA announced that a “strict” no-bag policy would be in effect, alongside heightened security measures.

“As we move closer to Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, Madison Square Garden and the United States Secret Service want to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all ticket holders by sharing important security procedures that will be in place,” the company said.

It warned that security measures would be similar to TSA screenings at airports, and that personal items should be kept to an “absolute minimum.”

Alongside high security protocol, officials said that guests should come at least two hours before the game even starts to get people through the lines.

The Secret Service told Reuters that New Yorkers “should anticipate hard street closures in the immediate area surrounding Madison Square Garden.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what streets would face closures.

Late last year, the US Open men’s final was delayed by 30 minutes from Trump-connected security measures, the BBC reported at the time.

Although there is no confirmed plan of tip-off time changing, past events Trump has attended could shine a light on what Knicks fans can expect tonight.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 ways Trump and Mamdani could affect Knicks NBA Finals game tonight