Pumped-up Knicks fans take party outside in bid to beat rival Celtics

It was rocking wrong — and extracurricular — nan World’s Most Famous Arena connected Saturday.

More than 2,000 rabid Knicks fans gathered successful nan 33rd Street plaza extracurricular Madison Square Garden to watch Game 3 of nan NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals connected a elephantine surface – arsenic request and entity precocious summons prices kept galore al fresco.

“This is nan existent New York,” said Christopher Torres, 38, a unit head from Harlem who said nan existent diehard Knicks fans were extracurricular pinch him watching nan action. 

“These are nan sanitation workers, Fire Department people, nan group that tally nan city, they’re retired here. They can’t spend to beryllium inside. Those prices are crazy.”

Fans gathered hours earlier wrong nan fenced-in area to people nan champion views of nan ample surface airing nan pivotal Game 3, pinch nan Knicks up 2-0 complete nan rival Boston Celtics. Another smaller surface was besides available.

Jeff Kay, 52, a retired constabulary serviceman from Hillside, NJ, said he arrived 10:30 a.m. astatine nan watch statement to people front-row seats. He said he was thrilled to beryllium location but wished his precocious begetter was pinch him to bask nan moment.

“It’s astir magical spot connected Earth, the astir magical spot connected Earth. I wish my dada was here. Unfortunately, I mislaid him a fewer years ago. 
He was a large Knicks fan, and this intends a batch to me. I’m judge he’s watching down, rooting for us.”

The free “Block Party” arena hosted by MSG included a unrecorded DJ, look coating for children, opportunities for fans to sprout immoderate hoops, giveaways and chances to meet erstwhile Knicks stars Larry Johnson, John Starks and Latrell Sprewell.

“We want to supply our fans pinch unforgettable experiences some wrong and extracurricular of The Garden,” Starks said.

MSG hosted akin events for nan first 2 games of nan bid played successful Boston, which nan Knicks won successful shocking last-minute fashion, erasing 20-point, 3rd 4th deficits.

Secondary marketplace prices astir 2 hours earlier tipoff for nan cheapest seats successful MSG’s precocious levels were astatine slightest $831 erstwhile including $146 processing fees, according to StubHub.

If nan Knicks upset nan Celtics, they’ll reach the Eastern Conference Finals for nan first clip since 2000 erstwhile Johnson and Sprewell still played for nan team.

The nine hasn’t reached nan NBA Finals since 1999 and hasn’t won an NBA title since 1973, nan fifth-longest progressive drought successful nan league.