Die-hard New York Knicks fan Ben Stiller headlined celebrity row as he was joined by several other stars to watch New York play in the postseason against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Carmelo Anthony, Julianne Moore, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sting, Dave East, and Offset, Jon Stewart, and Tracy Morgan were all spotted courtside for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round matchup in Midtown Manhattan.
Knicks fans, not famous and celebrity, were out in full force as they had a chance to eliminate Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the rest of Philadelphia from the NBA playoffs.
Sting, Ross, East, and Anthony were all seen going into the arena through an auxiliary entrance at the southwest corner of the venue.
Sting, accompanied by his wife, Trudie Styler, was seen in a grey blazer, alongside a black shirt, black slacks and black shoes.
Ben Still was sat courtside next to Tracy Morgan and Jon Stewart on Tuesday night at MSG
Carmelo Anthony was swarmed by fans as he entered Madison Square Garden for the game
Tracy Morgan is a constant figure at Knicks games, with Tuesday’s being no exception
Famous actress Julianne Moore also was spotted in the lower level of Madison Square Garden
The celebrities were on hand for one of the more raucous crowds Madison Square Garden, thinking a series-clincher was in the cards, up by six with 28.2 seconds left in the game.
Maxey had other plans with a pair of 3-pointers to send the game to overtime, including the game-tying swish with 8.1 seconds left on a shot from the Knicks logo.
Stewart was caught on the game’s broadcast looking dumbfounded by Maxey’s final shot of regulation, wondering how it went in.
The 76ers extended the series at least one more game with a 112-106 win in overtime, with Game 6 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Anthony was captured arriving at The Garden in DailyMail.com photos, wearing a blue and beige letterman’s jacket, with an orange Knicks hat, jeans, and blue and white Nike sneakers.
Tracee Ellis Ross also seen rushing into the arena in DailyMail.com photos, keeping her look casual in an oversized leather jacket as she clutched a red backpack.
Tracee Ellis Ross also seen rushing into the famous arena keeping her look casual
Sting entered Madison Square Garden for Knicks-76ers alongside his wife Trudie Styler
Offset was also in a leather jacket and a Dolce & Gabbana over his head as he was joind by his wife, Cardi B.
The ‘I Like It Like That’ singer dressed for bright lights of New York City in vintage-style sunglasses as she rested her white, Ombre Birkin bag on her lap on the front row.
The Knicks’ Instagram account shared a photo of Moore as the actress beamed for the camera courtside in a black sweater with a white shirt collar peeping out of the top.
Meanwhile, stalwart fans Stiller, Stewart, and Morgan were sat next to each other at courtside, intently watching Jalen Brunson and the rest of their favorite team.
Earlier Tuesday, Stiller posted a message to his social media, blasting player-turned-analyst Richard Jefferson for his take on the series.
‘Richard Jefferson claiming Embiid doesn’t get calls, and doesn’t foul,’ Stiller said.
Offset, member of the rap group Migos, was also spotted entering MSG in New York City
Cardi B joined her husband, Offset, courtside at MSG holding a white Birkin bag on Tuesday
Jon Stewart was sat in close range to all of the action beside Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan
Jefferson quickly responded, ‘Benjamin I love you but that’s not what I said.’
The ‘Zoolander’ actor retorted himself, ‘Respect Richard. But Embiid gets SO many calls. And the reference was to the one foul that Batum did commit.’
Still then added that Embiid ‘grabbed Mitch’s ankle and should have been ejected.’
‘I didn’t do that game but I agree with you,’ Jefferson said back to Stiller.
‘So you were referencing when we THOUGHT it was on Embiid but the VIDEO and REFS showed in was on Batum and we corrected it and you were bothered by that? Ps… he does get a lot of calls as reigning MVP’s often do,’ Jefferson concluded with a GIF from Stiller in ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’.
Earlier this month, Stiller traded jabs with 76ers star Kelly Oubre Jr., who said the celebrities at Madison Square Garden do not actually care about the team.
‘They’re gonna give celebrities those $100,000 [worth of] free tickets just to be there and not care about the game,’ Oubre said. ‘That’s what they do.’
Stiller took to social media to defend his care for the Knicks and replied to Ourbe’s statement on X, writing: ‘Oh I think I care a lot more than you think that you thought I cared… Kelly Who-bre?’
The actor’s response referenced his famous villainous character, White Goodman, from the 2004 film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
