Overview
- Cardi B delivered a roughly three-minute halftime set at Madison Square Garden Monday night, performing “Bodega Baddie” and “Bodak Yellow” before returning courtside to watch the second half with her four-year-old son, Wave.
- ABC’s network telecast did not show the full performance live, while the set circulated in full on NBA League Pass and in clips across social platforms, highlighting a split in what different audiences saw.
- During the halftime feed, analyst Charles Barkley joked on air, “I don’t know if those B’s. They might be Cardi D’s,” a remark that was clipped, spread rapidly on X and other sites, and drew both laughter and criticism.
- President Trump attended the game and was loudly booed during the anthem; social videos reported he briefly left his suite when Cardi B’s set was announced but that movement has not been officially confirmed.
- On the court, the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 in Game 3, cutting New York’s lead to 2-1 and keeping the Finals competitive while Madison Square Garden staged its first Finals game since 1999.