Zohran Mamdani watched the Knicks ' wildest Finals win like almost every other New Yorker, packed into a bar and losing himself in the moment.
The mayor was seen inside Peg's Cavalier in Queens as New York erased a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
By the time OG Anunoby tipped in Jalen Brunson's missed three with 1.2 seconds left, the room had turned into a full celebration.
Mamdani was shown cheering with patrons, high-fiving fans, and reacting like someone who had just watched the Knicks move one win from their first championship since 1973.
The comeback was the largest in NBA Finals history. San Antonio led by 27 at halftime and by 29 in the second half before New York closed with a massive surge, capped by Anunoby's game-winner.
That is why the celebration felt bigger than a normal watch party. It was a city watching a 53-year title wait move within one victory of ending.
Mamdani's support has been visible throughout the run. He attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden after saying he bought a nearly $1,000 standing-room ticket and would stand for the entire game.
He has also pushed for public viewing spaces, including city-backed watch-party options after MSG's outdoor plans were disrupted by security restrictions.
Still, his administration has been part of those restrictions, too. NYPD and City Hall kept tight security around MSG for Game 4 even without Donald Trump in attendance, citing safety concerns after previous crowd issues.
Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images
That has put Mamdani at odds with Knicks owner James Dolan and MSG Sports. The Garden's side blasted Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as "party poopers," arguing that the frozen-zone rules hurt fans and nearby businesses.
Mamdani's side has framed the limits as necessary crowd control during a historic, emotional run. Earlier tension between the two sides had already included the Knicks issuing a cease-and-desist over Mamdani's use of team imagery in political material.
The feud has not stopped the mayor from riding with the Knicks. Now he is overseeing New York in a summer of sports, with the Knicks one win from a title and the FIFA World Cup beginning today.
Read more:
