Wu-Tang Clan’s Halftime Performance Preceded (And Sparked?) The Knicks’ Historic NBA Finals Comeback

If one wanted to view it this way, one could conclude the Wu-Tang Clan willed their hometown New York Knicks to the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history last night.

Some context: The Knicks, historically inept since the dawn of the 21st century, have been competitive again in recent years thanks to a core of former Villanova teammates led by point guard Jalen Brunson. This spring, they morphed into an unstoppable juggernaut, winning an unprecedented 13 straight playoff games, including a first-round humiliation of the Hawks, sweeps of the 76ers and Cavaliers, and two road victories in San Antonio to kick off the finals. Then the vibe shifted.

Knicks owner James Dolan, the guy who once booked his own blues-rock band to open for the Eagles, invited his friend Donald Trump to attend Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Trump accepted the invite, becoming the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. Trump's presence led to ultra-strict security measures that delayed entry for fans, and he was roundly booed by his hometown crowd. Meanwhile Dolan blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the security delays and said Mamdani was "not a Knicks fan." In Game 3, the Knicks were thwarted by the Spurs and rising superstar Victor Wembanyama, ending their win streak and eliminating the possibility of completing a sweep on their home court.

Heading into Game 4, Dolan continued to battle Mamdani in the media, blaming the mayor for the cancellation of the Knicks' official watch party outside MSG. Dolan said the city had only approved a 1,000-capacity permit, arguing that the number should be much higher. Mamdani said the Knicks had only applied for a permit allowing 500-999 people. The weird dynamic extended onto the court, where the Spurs built up a seemingly insurmountable 27-point halftime lead, at one point leading by 29.

The throng of celebrities who'd flocked to MSG to support the Knicks was stunned. Diehards like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Larry David, and Timothée Chalamet were there, of course, as was Geese's Dom DiGesu, who is emerging as a renowned NYC sports fan. There were also non-regulars like Jimmy Fallon and Taylor Swift, who visited her future wedding venue with a squad in punny T-shirts including Este and Alana Haim and Mariska Hargitay. Every last one of them looked resigned to a lifetime of despair.

Enter the Wu-Tang.

Wu-Tang Clan, the pride of Staten Island, were booked as halftime performers for Game 4. Given the hole the Knicks had dug themselves into, the atmosphere was not especially celebratory in the arena. But the Wu-Tang cohort came through with a rousing medley in under four minutes, informing the television audience that "Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin' to fuss with." When it was over, Meth declared, "Knicks in 5," essentially guaranteeing a Game 4 victory for the Knickerbockers despite the odds. It wasn't the craziest idea, considering a month ago these Knicks erased a 22-point deficit against Cleveland in under eight minutes. Still, that kind of comeback seemed unlikely.

Method Man was right. The Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, surpassing the 24-point comeback staged by the Celtics over the Lakers in 2008. The victory was sealed with just over a second left, when OG Anunoby tipped Brunson's missed three-pointer in to secure a 107-106 lead. The Garden went nuts. You can thank the Wu?

Or was Rihanna responsible for this?

Or was it the people who showed up to the Kevin Morby show?