Foes turned friends — at least when the Knicks are playing.
Andrew Cuomo rushed from Long Island City to Madison Square Garden after Wednesday night’s mayoral debate wrapped, to sit courtside with none other than incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the race last month.
Cuomo, the ex-governor running as an independent, was seen embracing Adams when he arrived at his seat — and even flashed a thumbs-up while sitting alongside Hizzoner.
His official X account said he arrived at the game in time for the second half with the Knicks leading the Cavaliers 55-50. The Knicks held on for a 119-111 win to kick off the 2025-26 NBA season.
In a separate X post, Cuomo shared images of himself alongside Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony.
The former governor cheered “Go Knicks, Go Knicks, Go Knicks” during his opening remarks at the second and final debate before the Nov. 4 election, where Cuomo will face-off against Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
Cuomo went on to tell the debate audience that he hoped “we get an update on the score” of the NBA game during the fiery, 90 minute showdown, hosted by Spectrum NY1 and held at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College.
Mamdani, who faced a barrage of attacks from Cuomo, also used his opening remarks to address the Knicks.
Here are some highlights from the final 2025 NYC Mayoral Debate
“I know you’d rather be watching the Knicks,” Mamdani quipped to the crowd.
But as the thrice-elected former governor bolted for MSG following the debate, his opponents stayed behind and joined the media “spin room” to discuss their performance.
While Sliwa declared himself the debate winner – and vowed to remain in the race despite deafening calls for him to drop his long-shot bid – Mamdani was joined by Cuomo’s sexual harassment accuser Charlotte Bennet.
The Democratic Socialists of America candidate noted Bennett’s attendance from the debate stage as he ripped the 67-year-old embattled former pol for the allegations that prompted him to resign in disgrace in 2021.
“You have spent more than $20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political,” Mamdani said, adding, “You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women.
“One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening,” he said, pointing to the 29-year-old former Cuomo aide. “You sought to access her private gynecological records. She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her.”
Cuomo has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Bennett, a former state employee, settled her lawsuit in April for $450 million.
Mamdani later took to social media to slam Cuomo for attending the Knicks game with Adams.
“Corruption goes courtside,” he wrote on X, sharing a photo of the controversial duo smiling in their VIP seats.
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