The connection between Madison Square Garden’s biggest stars was on display again Wednesday night as New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist made the trip to San Antonio to support the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Hall of Fame goaltender came away impressed after watching the Knicks take down Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in a statement road victory.
Knicks Top Spurs, Rangers Icon Reacts
The Knicks got the NBA Finals off to a strong start with a 105-95 road win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center, continuing their incredible playoff run.
Lundqvist, known to Rangers fans as “The King,” made the trip to San Antonio alongside Knicks icon Walt “Clyde” Frazier. He shared photos and videos from the arena on social media, showing off his Knicks gear while watching New York extend its winning streak to 12 consecutive playoff games: the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history.
After the final buzzer, Lundqvist summed up the moment on X with a short but fitting reaction: “12 straight”, followed by several mind-blown emojis.
The former Rangers star has become a regular presence during the Knicks’ playoff run. He and his wife, Therese, were also spotted courtside at Madison Square Garden during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, continuing their support throughout New York’s historic season.
As for Game 1 itself, it didn’t start well for the Knicks.
San Antonio controlled much of the first three quarters and built a 14-point lead midway through the third. Julian Champagnie sparked the Spurs with five first-half threes, while rookie Dylan Harper provided an immediate boost off the bench.
The situation became even more concerning for New York when Jalen Brunson appeared to pick up a couple of knocks, briefly heading to the locker room after a knee injury scare before later tweaking his ankle.
But the Knicks responded the way they have all postseason.
They dominated the offensive glass, limited turnovers, and gradually chipped away at the deficit before pulling even at 76-76 heading into the fourth quarter. With the game tied late, New York delivered the knockout punch, closing on an 11-0 run over the final two minutes to silence the San Antonio crowd and secure an ever-important win in the opener.
The matchup also carries a sense of history. The last time the Knicks reached the NBA Finals was in 1999, and that team also faced the Spurs.
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With a 1-0 lead in the series, the Knicks have grabbed early momentum heading into Game 2. Once the Finals shift to Madison Square Garden for Game 3, don’t be surprised if Lundqvist is back in the crowd, cheering on New York as it chases its first NBA championship in decades.