Donald Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden for what should have been one of the most electric nights in NY basketball history. The Knicks were hosting a Finals game for the first time since 1999. Yet, amid all the chaos, it was the president’s eyes that stole the attention. Note: they appeared to be closed…

A video posted by Underdog showed the POTUS struggling to stay awake during Game 3. It is still unclear whether he was just resting his eyes, like taking a power-nap, or whether he actually dozed off for a longer stretch. Trump was seated alongside his granddaughter, Kai, and Knicks owner James Dolan, in a bulletproof glass-enclosed suite. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, were present too.

The contrast at the time was impossible to miss. Even though thousands of fans vented their displeasure when Trump appeared on the big screen, the soon-to-be 80-year-old was detached from the chaos. Now, there may be several explanations for this. Trump keeps up a demanding schedule, and the 8:30 pm tip-off may not have aligned with his daily routine. The game was hardly a quick affair, with reviews and frequent stoppages stretching it deep into the night.

But Trump certainly wasn’t short on refreshments and company. A video of the president munching on French fries and sipping Diet Coke while watching the action went viral earlier in the evening. Only Pepsi products are sold at the Garden, so it’s likely that the drink was brought externally for the president to enjoy during the game, according to Piper Blackburn of CNN. The menu didn’t stop there. Trump was later seen enjoying a slice of pizza as well.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was spotted with Trump in the second quarter. So, the POTUS was rarely alone in the suite. But the isolated seating must have played a role in his dozing off. The last time Trump attended a Knicks game, over a decade ago, he was seated courtside. Even when he was a staple at the Garden in the ’90s and mid-2000s, he always sat in the front row. That’s where a row of high-profile celebrities becomes part of the Knicks’ army.

Being close to the action and with familiar people creates an interactive experience. It’s hardly possible to fall asleep if you can watch and maybe even speak to Victor Wembanyama or Jalen Brunson from a few feet away!

Trump had landed in Manhattan just before 7:20 pm ET on Marine One from New Jersey. The motorcade took the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive from Wall Street up to the Garden, passing several NY watch parties on the way. The presidential visit caused major delays for both players and fans who came for the game. That’s because police and Secret Service agents set up a wide security perimeter around Dolan’s arena at 4 pm.

According to The Athletic, no one without a ticket or work credentials could get past the fences restricting access, and then they were made to stand in long, airport-style security lines to get in. Fans had to adhere to the no-bag policy, and Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox revealed that players were asked to limit what they brought into the arena and were searched by Secret Service agents. Wemby also wasn’t exempt from protocol as he was pictured being screened in shorts.

Despite his failure to stay engaged with the game from start to finish, Trump appreciated the display put up by both teams as his motorcade left at 11:35 pm.

“The game was fantastic,” Trump said. “Well played by both teams. We all had a lot of fun, and it was great to watch. Very talented players.”

Trump needed some rest, but he kept his promise. He showed up for the Knicks in Game 3, which ended in a shocking loss for the home crowd altogether.

Stephen A. Smith’s Donald Trump warning comes true…?

Stephen A. Smith feared this would happen. When he heard that the president was planning to attend the NBA Finals, the ESPN analyst’s gut instinct told him it was wrong. The Knicks hadn’t lost 13 games and had captured both games on the road to open with a 2-0 lead in the title series. The games moving to the Garden felt like ‘the crowning moment’ for New Yorkers. But Smith felt the POTUS’ appearance could undermine the energy building in the city.

“It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to be existing at Madison Square Garden,” Smith added. “If it were Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home. Stay at the White House.'”

The ESPN analyst openly called it an “inconvenience” to the entire city. But Trump didn’t sit quietly and ended up responding to Smith last night.

“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president, you need a high IQ,” Trump said. “I’m not sure Stephen A. Smith has that.”

But nobody can deny that the boos echoing around the arena on Trump’s welcome were the first sign of the crowd not agreeing with his presence. As the game progressed, it seemed that the crowd was caught between two minds. They had too much to focus on. Basketball slipped down the pecking order periodically.

That’s where the San Antonio Spurs mounted the pressure.

After his costly mistake in Game 2, Victor Wembanyama delivered the perfect response. The Spurs superstar seized control of Game 3 with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three blocks, producing his most complete performance of the series on the biggest stage. For the first time in this matchup, the Frenchman decisively won his battle with Karl-Anthony Towns, limiting the big man to just 11 points and eight rebounds.

Madison Square Garden still had its moments. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby buried timely three-pointers that sent the crowd into mania and briefly hinted at another Knicks comeback.

But every surge was met with a composed Spurs answer. The final blow came from De’Aaron Fox, whose smooth mid-range jumper killed any lingering hope.

The series now stands at 2-1, and San Antonio has issued a reminder to the rest of the basketball world: this team is far from overwhelmed by the moment.

For the Knicks, Game 4 suddenly carries far greater significance. Another home victory would restore control and put them within touching distance of the title.