New York Knicks

French Montana is trying to track down a devastated New York cab driver whose vehicle was wrecked during wild celebrations after the Knicks' NBA Championship win ... and he's hoping to help get the man back on his feet.

The rapper took to X urging followers to help locate 59-year-old Noureddine Bitat after sharing a viral video showing the driver standing in stunned silence beside his destroyed taxi Saturday night.

The footage is a tough watch ... while fans celebrated the Knicks' historic victory on top of his cab, Noureddine appeared completely heartbroken as he processed the damage happening to his vehicle that helped him make a living for his family in Algeria.

Hayden Christensen pissed off some 'Star Wars' fans this weekend when he made an early exit from a pricey fan convention panel in Texas ... so he could go to the NBA Finals.

Several folks who attended Space Con in San Antonio tell TMZ ... Hayden, who plays Anakin Skywalker in the 'Star Wars' franchise, let them down when he got up from a panel they paid to attend and announced he was going next door to Game 5 between the Knicks and Spurs.

See for yourself ... footage circulating on social media shows Hayden telling the group he's jetting to get to the game ... and his announcement gets a mixture of moans and cheers.

Jalen Brunson took an apparent shot at Victor Wembanyama during the Knicks' championship celebrations ... with the New York star raising a glass as the room chanted "F*** Wemby."

The clip is making rounds on social media on Monday ... showing the Finals MVP surrounded by a group of guys as they prepare for a champagne toast.

It's hard to tell who initiated the anti-Wemby jab -- it very well could have been Brunson himself. If it wasn't him, the All-Star guard didn't seem to mind at all ... as it came off like a friendly poke, not a full-on declaration of hatred for the 7'4" center.

Mikal Bridges is still on cloud nine -- enjoying a few adult beverages and jammin' out to pop rock -- two days after the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years!!!

The usually reserved 6'6" wing player went live on social media on Monday, and it was a vibe ... at one point asking himself, "It's 11 AM. What the f*** am I doing?" before asking for another shot.

Among the topics Mikal covered was the possibility of his teammate getting a statue outside the Garden.

James Harden didn't look too thrilled to be posing for a mug shot early Saturday morning ... with the NBA star giving a blank stare after his gun-related arrest.

TMZ Sports has obtained the booking photo from the Houston Police Department ... showing the 36-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers guard staring down the camera lens.

As we previously reported, Harden was taken into custody around 3:41 AM when a handgun was observed on the seat of his car and not in a holster after being pulled over for a traffic violation.

9:34 AM -- The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a news release on the shooting. They said in a statement ... "The officers met with the person reporting (PR) who directed the officers to the apartment unit. The officers contacted the resident in the apartment unit; while speaking with the resident, a large dog was by its side barking at the officers."

They continue ... "The officers asked her to secure the dog, and the resident closed her door momentarily. She re-opened the door, and the dog exited the apartment. Once outside of the apartment, the dog charged at one of the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS)."

LAPD says the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services responded and took Jameson's body. They added Marie was cooperating with authorities.

According to the release, the Force Investigation Division is investigating the incident.

LAPD shot and killed a 2-year-old dog who wasn't doing anything wrong ... at least according to his owner.

Cops were responding to a call Saturday from a resident who wanted them to check on a screaming woman in a Canoga Park condo building. When officers arrived, they fatally shot the woman's dog, Jameson, claiming he rushed at the officers.

But his owner, Marie Marseille, says that's not what happened. She told FOX 11 ... "Jameson wasn't baring teeth. He wasn't growling. He wasn't aggressive. He wasn't barking. He was just moving towards the officer."

Charles Barkley couldn’t hide his surprise over one familiar face showing up courtside during Game 5 of the NBA Finals ... and he made sure to call it out on live TV.

As "Inside the NBA" was heading to a commercial break on Saturday night, Barkley reacted in real time after cameras cut to actress Sydney Sweeney in the crowd.

"Is that Sydney Sweeney?" Barkley said, sounding genuinely shocked before adding, "Everybody’s a New York Knicks fan now."

Jalen Brunson is making it clear he’s got Monica McNutt’s back after she caught heat from Taylor Swift fans during the NBA Finals ... and he has a message for the Swifties.

Following the Knicks’ championship-clinching Game 5 win, Brunson took a moment to address the controversy surrounding McNutt’s comments about Swift during the Game 4 broadcast.

Brunson, who was seen celebrating with McNutt courtside, bumped into her during the postgame excitement before turning his attention to the online backlash.

A shooting in Times Square left one teenager injured following the Knicks’ Game 5 NBA Finals victory ... with police describing a night of widespread chaos across New York City.

Law enforcement sources tell us the most serious incident unfolded around 43rd Street and Broadway, where a 17-year-old victim was shot during the post-game celebrations.

Authorities say the NYPD, not an ambulance, transported the teen victim to the hospital because emergency vehicles were unable to access the area due to massive crowds that had "completely taken it over."

Officials also confirm a firearm was recovered at the scene, and three people of interest are currently in custody as the investigation continues.

Timothée Chalamet is going viral after making his priorities pretty clear ... he'd take a seat at a New York Knicks game over The Oscars any day.

In the viral video circulating online, the four-time Oscar nominee suggests he’d choose being in the building for a Knicks game over attending the Academy Awards ... a statement that instantly sent sports and entertainment fans a tizzy online.

The moment is already lighting up social media, with users replaying the video and reacting to Chalamet’s enthusiasm for his team and his apparent dogging of Hollywood’s biggest night.

The city that never sleeps didn’t even try to chill Saturday night ... because the moment the Knicks secured a massive Game 5 victory in the NBA Finals, New York City exploded into celebration.

Seconds after the final buzzer, crowds spilled into the streets across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and beyond ... turning sidewalks and intersections into full-blown parties as fans celebrated the series-shifting win.

Car horns blared nonstop, people waved Knicks gear in the air, and impromptu chants echoed through the city as thousands of fans poured outside to mark the historic win.

Cardi B was every Knicks fan Saturday night ... completely losing it as New York locked up a huge Game 5 victory.

The rapper documented the emotional roller coaster on social media, first telling fans not to judge her for where she was watching the game, as she filmed herself from what she said to be her basement -- admitting she was glued to the action from home as the Knicks battled for the win.

Catch the clip ... the second the final buzzer sounded and the Knicks secured the victory, Cardi exploded in celebration -- screaming, yelling and running laps around her house while repeatedly shouting, "Oh my God!" and "We won!"

Still buzzing from the win, Cardi declared, "We outside right now!" before explaining she needed to get glam ASAP because, as she put it, "the streets are calling me" ... in other words, there was no chance she was staying home after that.

3:05 PM PT -- The ticket drama appears over ... Ticketmaster says if you bought a valid Game 5 ticket through its platform, you're getting into the building.

The Spurs' ticket policy has already ticked off Knicks fans ... now it's got New York Attorney General Letitia James breathing down San Antonio's neck.

James jumped into the controversy Saturday, publicly demanding the Spurs ditch the alleged policy that had threatened some out-of-state ticket purchases ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The AG even threw in a little hometown pride while making her case.

As TMZ previously reported, some Knicks fans who purchased tickets for Saturday night's game were stunned to learn their orders could be canceled because they lived outside a 150-mile radius of San Antonio. The Spurs later said the restriction wasn't created specifically for the Finals ... and noted it has been in place throughout the postseason.

Taylor Swift's no poser ... so says former New York superstar Amar'e Stoudemire, who tells TMZ Sports the singer's loyalty to the Orange and Blue goes all the way back to his time on the Knicks.

The topic took over social media during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday ... when Swift, Mariska Hargitay and the HAIM sisters sat courtside for the home team's incredible comeback win.

Some haters -- even Knicks radio talent Monica McNutt -- called BS on Swift earning a spot on the hardwood ... but they clearly didn't do their homework, as there's plenty of evidence connecting her to the organization.

The Spurs say their ticket policy is nothing new ... and has been that way the entire playoffs.

"The 150-mile radius restriction introduced during the Playoffs remains in place throughout the NBA Finals. This allows us to continue prioritizing local fans across San Antonio, Austin and surrounding communities."

Suddenly, there's a "No City Slickers" rule in place for the NBA Finals game 5 ... the San Antonio Spurs are yanking tickets away from Knicks fans hoping to watch their team win its first 'chip in 53 years.

The message is loud and clear on the Ticketmaster page for Spurs tickets ... anyone buying tickets for Saturday night's crucial game will be blocked if ya ain't from 'round these parts. The actual warning reads, "Sales to this event will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center" ... the Spurs home arena.

Even if you're an out-of-towner who already has tickets, you're likely to get screwed, too. The Ticketmaster warning adds, violators of the rule will have their tickets "canceled without notice" ... but you will get a refund.

Taylor Swift and President Trump steal the show at MSG, the Karmelo Anthony verdict sparks protests over alleged racism ... while Tracy Morgan gets an "F" with teachers and Millie Bobby Brown's got her hands full. So, we gotta ask ...