The New York Knicks are at home for Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Monday, having taken the first two wins of the series in Texas against the San Antonio Spurs, but for die-hard basketball fans, getting one of the highly coveted seats in Madison Square Garden comes with stratospheric ticket prices.
As fans frantically search for a last-minute ticket to the post-season matchup, prices to attend the game in person have skyrocketed, ranging from $43,000 for seats close to courtside to the cheapest nosebleeds at just over $4,000.
Competitively priced Finals tickets are available for resale on sites like Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats and others, but vary depending on venue and game.
Madison Square Garden, which has a 19,812 total seat capacity for NBA games, has various get-in prices on third-party sites for Game 3 on Monday, June 8.
The secondary market for the first New York home game hovers around $4,000 and up for one seat on multiple sites including Ticketmaster and StubHub.
Madison Square Sports Group announced Monday that two "Celebrity Row" seats for Game 3 have been auctioned off for $1 million via a fundraiser in support of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which "brings life-changing opportunities to young people in need through education, inspiration, grants and joy," according to its website.
A large law firm -- Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher LLP -- and private equity firm Veritas Capital shared the bid.
In comparison to other major sporting events, the prices for the NBA Finals games are close to surpassing those of Super Bowl LX tickets at California's Levi's Stadium, the cheapest of which went for just over $4,800 earlier this year, according to People.
After a decadeslong drought, the Knicks are seeking redemption after their last NBA Finals appearance in 1999, when they lost to the Spurs in five games.
With the better regular season record in the West, the Spurs -- led by NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama -- hosted Games 1 and 2 of the series, which tipped off Wednesday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. at home.
Fans who had hoped to secure one of the 18,418 seats inside Frost Bank Center quickly discovered that the cheapest available option for a single Balcony Level seat in the 200s section started at $969.21, according to the venue's third-party operator, Ticketmaster.
The best -- and most expensive -- ticket that was left available at the Spurs arena before the game commenced was in the first row of the Ledger Courtside Club with a price of $48,400, with the caveat of "no rival team gear" allowed.
Ticketed watch parties have started to pop up in both teams' cities as an alternative to being inside the arenas, with deals on food and drinks in addition to a place to watch the action with fellow fans.
For Game 3 on Tuesday night, New York City is hosting a watch party in Bryant Park, and additional viewing events are also taking place at Wollman Rink in Central Park and the Brooklyn Bowl.
"These watch parties have become a celebration of New York City itself," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement Monday. "From every borough and every neighborhood, this city has come together to cheer on the Knicks and share in a moment that belongs to all of us. That's why we're adding Bryant Park as an additional watch party location, so even more fans can be part of this incredible Knicks Finals run."
Bars across the New York tri-state area have also teamed with the NBA and Michelob ULTRA to host fans and cheer on the Knicks at an array of spots in the Official Playoff Bar Network.
The famed Knickerbocker Hotel will host live game screenings in the fourth-floor Martini Lounge throughout the finals, complete with a $36 Watch Party Package option that includes a featured cocktail, sliders and french fries. There will also be a Victory Martini Minute after every Knicks win, in which guests will be treated to a mini martini served at the end of the game.
The Spurs previously hosted a slate of activations with Michelob ULTRA for official Game 1 and Game 2 watch parties at The Rock at La Cantera, which will continue if the series returns to San Antonio.
The watch parties are limited entry with first come, first served availabilities, and fans can RSVP online, though it will not guarantee entry.
The Frost Bank Center is also hosting free watch parties for all away games, with tickets that will become available to claim through the Spurs Fan Club, granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Game 3 will be held Monday, June 8, in New York City.
Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, also in New York City.
If the championship series goes to a Game 5, the teams would return to San Antonio to play on Saturday, June 13. A subsequent Game 6, if necessary, would be heled June 16 in New York City.
ESPN's exclusive presentation of the 2026 NBA Finals will air on ABC.
All games will air live on ABC and will be available to stream on the ESPN App.
This story was originally published on June 1, 2026.