Brooklyn Knicks fans heading into Saturday now have a map of places to gather for Game Five, with watch parties listed across the borough from Park Slope to Williamsburg, Brighton Beach and Bushwick. The latest roundup comes after the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit in Wednesday's Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs and moved to one win away from the NBA Finals trophy.
For Jon Gretah, that meant a packed night at The Commissioner in Park Slope, where fans celebrated under a new 75-inch screen set up for the occasion. The bar is one of several Brooklyn spots hosting a radio city music hall knicks watch party-style gathering for Game Five on Saturday, and it is part of a run of local viewing events that has kept Knicks backers moving from one neighborhood to the next as the postseason has tightened.
The appeal is not just the game itself. TriniJam Bk Roti Bar & Grill has been hosting watch parties throughout the entire NBA Finals run, while Brooklyn Bowl has done the same during the entire playoff run. Saturday's options also include Roebling Sporting Club in Williamsburg, where the event is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. sharp, and Boardwalk Beer Garden in Brighton Beach, which is built around a 150-inch TV and 11 additional TVs.
Brooklyn Bowl, also in Williamsburg, opens its doors at 6 p.m. and is offering free entry with all ages welcome. In Bushwick, Mama Taco Brooklyn is planning a late-night party from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. with two-for-one drinks, bottle specials and live music. Other listed stops include Industry City, BK Backyard, Elsewhere, Bar Nico, SchnitzelHaus, Time Out Market New York, Baker's Bar, Kent Theatre, Park Life BK, FancyFree and Black Forest Brooklyn.
That abundance of options comes with a catch that regulars already know: seating can be tight, and some places are steering fans toward early arrival. The scramble is part of the draw now, with the borough's bars and halls trying to match a surge of interest that has only grown as the Knicks have come within reach of a Finals breakthrough.
What remains unsettled is which Brooklyn spot will pull the biggest crowd on Saturday night. What is clear is that fans who want a seat, a screen and a room full of noise will have to choose early.
