Two NBA fans were tackled to the ground by security after they ran onto the court during the New York Knicks’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. The incident occurred with just under three minutes remaining in the second quarter and was captured by the TNT broadcast. Video shows the two women running down from the stands, with one reaching the middle of the court before being taken down and carried off by several security guards. The other was stopped just short of reaching the court.
The exact reason for the women’s actions was not immediately clear, but the incident took place as the NBA grapples with declining viewer ratings. According to Sports Media Watch, ratings for NBA games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV were down 25% through Saturday.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla recently attributed the ratings decline, admitting he would “rather watch something else” when asked about the issue. Additionally, Mazzulla also got into an angry tirade with referees during his team’s game in Chicago on Thursday night, lending some entertainment to the sports world.
The incident and other recent events may serve as a distraction from the league’s ratings woes. The NBA is working to revamp its product to regain viewer interest, including exploring new formats and changes to its schedule. For now, the league must rely on incidents like Thursday night’s court stormers to grab attention.