It was do or die for the New York Knicks.
The Knicks trailed the Indiana Pacers 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals heading into Thursday, but the Knicks defeated the Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 at New York’s Madison Square Garden to force a Game 6 in Indianapolis.
‘Celebrity Row’ turned out in droves and got to witness the Knicks’ first win at home this series.
Longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee made his first Eastern Conference Finals appearance during the Pacers’ Game 4 win over the Knicks, but he got an icy reception from Indiana fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. ESPN personality and former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee gave Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet a WWE style lashing during the fourth quarter: ‘Lets send these sons of (expletives) back to New York.’
Did Lee, Stiller and Chalamet sit courtside in New York? Did McAfee dare show his face in the Big Apple? We got you covered. USA TODAY Sports tracked all the stars that made an appearance during Game 5:
GAME 5 RECAP, HIGHLIGHTS: Knicks stave off elimination at The Garden
Celebrities at Knicks game today
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals brought out a variety of celebrities, ranging from Knicks legends (Patrick Ewing and Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier) to comedians (Tracy Morgan), actors (Timothée Chalamet, Susie Essman, Ben Stiller, Maude Apatow and Spike Lee), musicians (Shaboozey, Idina Menzel and Joey Badass) and world-class athletes (Michael Strahan, Kevin Love and Henrik Lundqvist).
Date Night: Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner courtside
It’s date night at the Garden. Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were spotted in Madison Square Garden’s ‘Celebrity Row’ Thursday. Chalamet wore a blue and orange letterman jacket, while Jenner matched in a coordinating leather jacket. The A-list couple packed on the PDA. As they were shown on the Jumbotron, Chalamet planted a kiss on Jenner’s cheek. The duo previously attended Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals between the Knicks and Boston Celtics together earlier this month.
Chalamet and Jenner appeared to be on a double date with ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ star Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Teller, who were seated next to them.
Spike Lee would ‘give up’ Oscar for Knicks title
Spike Lee bleeds orange and blue, so much so that he offered up an improbable exchange in order for the Knicks to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy for the first time in over five decades.
‘I would give up an Academy Award. Oscar, for the Knicks to win a Championship,’ Lee said Thursday.
Spike Lee reunites with Reggie Miller at Madison Square Garden
Spike Lee is back in the Garden. The Academy Award-winning director, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a superfan in October 2024, donned a blue and orange pinstripe suit to Game 5, paired with a blue fedora and his signature glasses. He stopped by the ‘Inside the NBA’ pregame show, along with TNT commentator Reggie Miller. The two have history. If you remember, Lee and Miller went back and forth with each other during the Pacers’ Game 5 win over the Knicks in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, where Miller dropped 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. Miller flashed his infamous choking gesture at Lee.
‘It’s all love,’ Lee said Thursday. Miller added, ‘We will forever be intertwined because of this.’
Lee’s commitment to the Knicks is unwavering, as he has been a season-ticket holder since 1985. His fandom, however, dates back to his childhood in Brooklyn. Lee has often shared that one of his most memorable moments as a Knicks fan was attending Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals when New York won its first championship.
Don-don… Mariska Hargitay in the building
Jalen Brunson’ favorite person on the planet is at Madison Square Garden. Longtime “Law & Order: SVU’ actress Mariska Hargitay and co-star Kelli Giddish sat courtside and Brunson is probably starstruck. In fact, she’s the only celebrity that has left the Knicks superstar in awe.
‘I’ve never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh, (wow),’’ Brunson said during a May 4 episode of his “The Roommates Show” podcast, which he hosts alongside teammate Josh Hart. ‘Then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything.’
A friendship between Brunson and Hargitay has been brewing since he donned royal blue and orange. The two shared a hug after the Knicks’ 108-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 11, which Hart called a rarity. (‘I’ve seen you not hug your wife after some losses,’ Hart joked.) In February, Hargitay announced Brunson’s All-Star selection with a special video, where she congratulated ‘one captain to another.’ (Hargitay has played Olivia Benson, captain of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, since 1999.)
Chef Bobby Flay spices things up courtside
The Knicks are cooking in Game 5, so it is only right that celebrity chef Bobby Flay is in the building. Flay is a New York City native and was raised on the Upper East side of Manhattan.
Idina Menzel at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks aren’t going to let go of the postseason just yet. Multi-hyphenate singer Idina Menzel, who voiced the hit single ‘Let it Go’ on the soundtrack of ‘Frozen,’ was on hand at Madison Square Garden, not far from the Theater District in New York City where she got her start in ‘Rent’ and ‘Wicked.’
Musicians Shaboozey, Joey Badass front and center
Someone will surely buy Grammy-nominated musician Shaboozey ‘a double shot of whiskey’ if the Knicks continue to dominate the Pacers in Game 5. Shaboozey was front and center at Madison Square Garden after presenting at the American Music Awards on Monday. He’s not the only musician in the crowd. Rapper Joey Badass, a Brooklyn native, is present. The Knicks social team captioned a photo of him: ‘Badmon representin.’
Michael Strahan, Gayle King spotted
A New York legend is in the building. Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is in attendance. Strahan helped the Giants win Super Bowl 42 over the New England Patriots in 2008. He was seated next to ‘CBS Mornings’ anchor Gayle King.
Ben Stiller invites Pat McAfee to Game 5. Will McAfee come?
McAfee opened up about his viral moment with Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet and Spike Lee during Game 4 on ESPN’s ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday: ‘They asked me to do that in the fourth quarter and I wasn’t gonna say no.. would like to let them all know, mad respect for coming out… all love.’
Stiller reposted the clip on his Twitter account, writing, ‘Come to game 5 Pat!!’
Although the Knicks fans want to return the… um… hospitality, McAfee said he ‘will not be at Madison Square Garden tonight.’ McAfee frankly said: ‘I’m not paying $70K for a ticket.’
Stiller, however, is in attendance. He has attended every game of the Eastern Conference Finals so far, but has yet to see the Knicks win at Madison Square Garden. He’s hoping Thursday is the night.
Tracy Morgan wins T-Shirt toss souvenir
Tracy Morgan is just like us — He wants free swag. The longtime Knicks fan was back in Madison Square Garden for Game 5 and snagged himself some goodies during a T-shirt toss.
Kevin Love skips Cancun for NYC
Kevin Love isn’t in Cancun. The Miami Heat star is at Madison Square Garden, seated near the Pacers’ bench.
Knicks legends represent: Patrick Ewing, Clyde Fraizer in the house
The champs are here. Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier and Bill Bradley led the Knicks to two titles in 1970 and 1973, which remain the franchise’s only NBA championships to date. He’s not the only Knick alum to return home for Game 5.
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was also on hand. The 11-time All-Star played for the Knicks from 1985 to 2000 and currently serves as the Knicks’ basketball ambassador. Ewing stopped by the ‘Inside the NBA’ pregame show to say hello to host Ernie Johnson. Former Knicks players Bernard King (1982–1987), Larry Johnson (1996–2001), Stephon Marbury (2004–2009) and Raymond Felton (2012–2014) are also in attendance.
Michael Imperioli in the building
‘The Sopranos’ actor Michael Imperioli is in the house (without a neck brace).
John Mellencamp not happy with Pat McAfee
Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Indiana native John Mellencamp was not a fan of McAfee’s rant.
“I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don’t know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team,’ Mellencamp wrote on X. ‘The audience booed these people. I’d say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it’s poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I’ve lived here my entire life.’
When is Pacers vs. Knicks Game 6?
The Knicks kept their season alive and the Eastern Conference Finals now shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday for Game 6 against the Pacers at 8 p.m. ET (TNT).
What time is Pacers vs. Knicks?
The New York Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Sling TV, Fubo, Max
Watch Knicks vs. Pacers Game 5 on Sling
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.