The Knicks orchestrated an epic comeback, and this team, which has struggled for so long, is just one step away from its first NBA championship in 53 years. The entire city has caught Knicks fever, and The Telegraph notes that the basketball frenzy is enough to prove that no one in Manhattan cares about the World Cup.

Wednesday night, Manhattan and the other four boroughs of New York were swept up in the excitement of a historic sporting event, one completely unrelated to FIFA or the upcoming World Cup final.

The New York Knicks pulled off one of the most stunning comebacks in NBA Finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit and hitting a game-winning basket with just one second remaining. The Knicks' sideline was packed with A-list celebrities; outside Madison Square Garden, thousands of fans celebrated the victory in a frenetic atmosphere that sparked several clashes with police.

World Cup promotional advertisements were everywhere in Times Square and Penn Station. The World Cup is set to begin tonight, but right now, the entire conversation across New York City centers on just one sport and one team.

This scene bears a striking resemblance to celebrations in North London last month after Arsenal won the Premier League title again after 22 years, except the Knicks have waited far longer for a championship. The team's last title was 53 years ago, when Nixon was in the White House and American troops were still fighting in the Vietnam War.

The loyalty of Knicks fans in America's largest city rivals that of Arsenal; however, in terms of championship drought and a persistent backdrop of tragic, unfulfilled ambition, this team resembles Tottenham Hotspur more closely.

The score was 107-106, with the Knicks leading the best-of-seven Finals 3-1. If they win Game 5 Saturday night in Texas, they'll clinch the championship; that game begins at 2 AM UK time on Sunday. By contrast, the World Cup match between the U.S. team and Paraguay, which begins at 2 AM UK time Saturday in Los Angeles, has received significantly less attention than this dramatic comeback.

No team can boast a sideline as star-studded as the Knicks, with many celebrities being devoted fans long before they became famous. Wednesday night, Larry David, star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," sat next to seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion John McEnroe; actor Timothée Chalamet attended with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, cheering after the dramatic shot that won the game. Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jimmy Fallon were all in attendance.

Taylor Swift also appeared with her entourage, wearing a shirt that read "Stevie Nicks," though there has always been skepticism about whether she is a true Knicks fan. Former President Trump attended the first Finals game and was booed throughout the stadium; he was later reported to have fallen asleep during the match. This New York native has long been a Knicks fan.

Wednesday's game-winning layup was made by one of the Knicks' star players, OG Anunoby, who was born in Harlesden, northwest London, near where Raheem Sterling grew up. The 28-year-old identifies as British and moved to Missouri at age four with his late father, Augugua (a scholar), later becoming a phenomenal star in high school and college basketball.

Anunoby is an Arsenal fan and also one of the investors in the London Lions basketball team. He often speaks with a British accent and actively promotes the development of British basketball. His brother, Chigbo, played in the NFL.

Anunoby is not the only person with British ties on the Knicks roster. Scottish international and key World Cup player John McGinn has deep family connections to the team. Scott, cousin of Aston Villa captain, serves as vice president of the company that operates Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are based in downtown Manhattan.

Seventh and Eighth Avenues outside Madison Square Garden were cordoned off by police, and fans were in high spirits. Videos circulating on social media showed Knicks fans attacking a passerby wearing a Spurs shirt, and there were several physical altercations with police at the scene.

However, the overall festive atmosphere was relatively calm. Bars showing the game were packed with fans wearing the team's blue and orange jerseys; crowds gathered around large screens on the street, and passersby watched the epic matchup through shop windows.

Even in this inclusive, world-class metropolis, the entire city is now united with one thing on its mind. Josh, a 24-year-old from Brooklyn, said many New Yorkers originally thought they would never live to see the day the Knicks won another championship. "Once they win, the whole city will explode. This will be a historic moment to tell our kids about, and I hope we don't have to wait so long for the next championship."

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi revealed that the entire England squad watched the game at their hotel in West Palm Beach, with many players being NBA enthusiasts. It's understood that Tuchel had solid basketball skills in his youth and stands 1.91 meters tall.

A video of U.S. World Cup team players reacting to the game-winning shot went viral on social media.

By contrast, it's highly unlikely that the Knicks players will pay much attention to the U.S. team's World Cup match against Paraguay. Wembanyama's Spurs suffered a comeback loss, but there's still a chance the series goes beyond Game 5.

In New York, the World Cup will have to take a back seat for now, waiting until this epic basketball drama reaches its final conclusion.

Traducido por IA.