• Donald Trump becomes the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game.
• He was booed thunderously by the crowd at Madison Square Garden during the national anthem.
• Security was heightened, causing inconvenience for fans attempting to enter the arena.
• The Knicks lost Game 3 to the Spurs, breaking a 13-game winning streak.
• Reactions from fans were mixed, with some applauding and others criticizing Trump's attendance.

On Monday night, US President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, sitting in a luxury suite at Madison Square Garden amid heightened security measures. However, his appearance was met with thunderous boos from many fans when he was shown on the arena’s big screens during the national anthem before Game 3, which featured the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.

Trump's attendance became a topic of controversy as fans faced significant delays and long lines due to intense security protocols, which included multiple checkpoints and a ban on bags. The crowds outside stretched more than two blocks, making a clear entrance almost impossible for many, leading to frustrations among Knicks supporters, reports India Times and Al Jazeera.

The game itself concluded with the Spurs defeating the Knicks 115-111, marking the end of the Knicks' impressive 13-game postseason winning streak. As the president’s appearance coincided with this decline, speculation arose among fans that his attendance might have had an impact on the game’s outcome, even as Trump downplayed the booing by claiming to have heard “mostly cheers,” according to NPR and India Times.

Notably, Trump's presence sparked a mixed reception from the crowd. While local leaders and some fans expressed their discontent with the inconveniences caused by his security detail, others welcomed him, suggesting that his attendance highlighted his connection to the Knicks despite the ongoing political divide in New York City, where he has often faced criticism, reports South China Morning Post and India Times.

As the Knicks continue their playoff journey, the implications of Trump's historic attendance remain a point of contention among fans and sports commentators alike, reflecting the deep intertwining of sports, politics, and public sentiment in contemporary America, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.