The hottest stars had prime real estate on celebrity row at Madison Square Garden for Game 5 of the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night.
The stars were on hand to watch the home team’s quest to keep their season alive and bounce back from a 3-1 series hole.
Knicks superfans Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan were all courtside to support them for what many have said is the biggest game in team history.
the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference finals on May 29, 2025. Instagram/New York Post Sports
Actress Maude Apatow was in the building.
During the “NBA on TNT” pregame show, Lee, who sported an orange and blue striped suit, said, “I would give up an Academy Award. Oscar, for the Knicks to win a Championship.”
Charles Barkley replied, “Well you’re gonna keep ’em!” referring to director’s two Oscar awards.
Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference finals on May 29, 2025. Instagram/New York Post Sports
Knicks alum Patrick Ewing took in the action, as he was spotted walking to his court side seat.
There has been no shortage of star power throughout the Eastern Conference finals in both New York and Indiana.
Chalamet, Stiller, and Lee made the trip to Indianapolis, where the Pacers beat the Knicks 130-121 on Tuesday night.
However, there isn’t an NBA arena that has a celebrity row quite like the Knicks, especially during the playoffs.
Conference finals on May 29, 2025. Instagram/Timothee Chalamet
Tickets aren’t available for purchase because it’s invite only.
The coveted courtside seats are typically reserved for A-listers and Knicks diehards, former Knicks PR chief and media consultant Joe Favorito told The Post.
The attention around the celebrity presence tends be heightened in New York partly because of the history of celebrity row and the legacy of The Garden.
Others aren’t concentrated on the celebs in the building, including Boomer Esiason.
On his radio show Tuesday morning, Esiason explained that the Knicks play better on the road than they do at home because they “hate” playing in front of the famous court side crowd.
“I think they’re just sick and tired of all the goddamn celebrities at home,” he said. “They hate playing in front of these people, and they’d just rather get away from all of that and go play. Go play defense and figure out a way to win on the road. There’s something to be said about that. When you go on the road, it’s you and your teammates. That’s it.”
The Knicks will have the home crowd rallying behind in them in a do-or-die Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals for them.
The Pacers have two-time All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s been clutch in closing moments throughout the series.
The winner will face the Western Conference champion Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals, beginning Thursday, June 5 in Oklahoma City, and airing on ABC.