Trump’s “curse” vs. Taylor Swift’s magic: Knicks see interesting turnaround

The New York Knicks’ Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs was absolute chaos, with a dramatic ending no one saw coming. After winning 13 in a row, they lost Game 3 at home, but flipped it back for a 3-1 lead on Wednesday night. And while there were many factors at play there, one unexpected outlier may have contributed just a tiny bit to the magic.

From Trump boos to Swift buzz

Just days after Donald Trump attended Game 3, a night that ended in a Knicks loss, Taylor Swift showed up to Madison Square Garden for Game 4. And the result was a stunning New York comeback victory.

Coincidence? Almost certainly. But that won’t stop me from ruminating.

Game 3 quickly turned into madness. As the Knicks returned home for their first Finals game in decades, the city was buzzing. But instead of the focus being just on basketball, it shifted into being about security and logistics around getting in the game and even into surrounding areas. That was thanks to President Donald Trump, who decided the game would be a good place to nap.

Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden brought heavy security, street closures, and a loud reaction from the crowd. When he appeared on the jumbotron, fans booed loudly and relentlessly, something that quickly went viral.

The Knicks, meanwhile, dropped the game 115–111, their first loss of the Finals and their first loss in nearly two months. The reactions online were immediate. Trump not only ruined the vibe. He cursed the team.

But by the time Game 4 rolled around, Trump was gone, and the atmosphere felt entirely different.

Enter Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift brings a different kind of energy to MSG

Swift arrived at MSG on Wednesday night dressed head-to-toe in Knicks colors, sitting courtside alongside the Haim sisters and fully embracing the moment. And the crowd was loving it too.

It wasn’t her first Knicks appearance this postseason. She had previously attended a playoff game during the Eastern Conference Finals with fiancé and longtime Cleveland Cavaliers fan Travis Kelce. Whilst he seemed upset by the Cavs’ elimination, Swift didn’t seem too bothered.

As Game 4 unfolded, the Knicks found themselves trailing for nearly the entire night. In fact, New York led for less than a minute total. And yet, somehow, they pulled it off. A late surge, and a final sequence that stunned the Spurs, gave the Knicks a 107–106 win and a commanding 3–1 series lead.

Trump may have cursed the team, but Swift broke the curse. And brought with her a little T-Swift magic. As it was not the first time Trump cursed a sports team, it also was not the first time Swift blessed one. From Kansas City Chiefs games with Travis Kelce to high-profile playoff appearances, her presence has often coincided with big wins. Now, Knicks fans are adding her to their own postseason mythology.

Of course, the reality is far less mystical. The Knicks’ Game 4 win had everything to do with execution, resilience, and a perfectly timed late-game push. But sports have always thrived on superstition. Heck, Ben Stiller and his wife burned their clothes from Game 3. Fans wear lucky jerseys. They sit in the same spot. They refuse to change routines during a winning streak.

So the idea that one celebrity might bring bad luck, and another might reverse it, is not too far fetched.

Will Trump or Swift return for Game 5?

Trump has suggested he may be too busy with “a war” to attend upcoming games, leaving his Finals appearances uncertain.

Swift’s schedule is also unpredictable, though her recent run of sports appearances suggests she’s enjoying the postseason spotlight as much as anyone.

The series will now move back to San Antonio. Whether either shows up again remains to be seen. Game 5 tips off Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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