Stephen A. Smith has claimed he was forced to miss Tuesday’s edition of First Take because of a dental procedure – after getting heat for skipping the show in the wake of the New York Knicks’ defeat.
The Knicks blew a 14-point third-quarter lead in their playoff clash with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, with their stunning collapse tying the series at 1-1.
The morning after their Game 2 loss, long-serving Knicks fan Smith was mysteriously absent from First Take, leading to accusations that he skipped it due to his team’s meltdown.
But the ESPN personality wrote on X later in the day: ‘This is truly a sad day for me. Bad enough I had to miss @FirstTake because of this damn dental procedure, but to miss the show when BOTH my boys — @KendrickPerkins AND @RealMikeWilbon — are IN-STUDIO… on a day I was scheduled to be IN-STUDIO… I almost cried!
‘Love my boys. You, too, @shaepeppler. Damn this sucks. See y’all tomorrow!’
A number of fans didn’t buy Smith’s excuse, including one who replied: ‘You ain’t slick the Knicks lost’.
Stephen A. Smith has claimed he was forced to miss Tuesday’s edition of First Take because of a dental procedure
Smith, a long-serving Knicks fan, took some stick for missing the show after their Game 2 loss
‘Straight duckin! Talkin about ‘dEnTiSt ApPoInTmEnT,” said another.
While a third put: ‘Oh right, so convenient all of a sudden the day after the knicks horrific loss sas happens to have a “dental procedure”, u aint foolin nobody’.
A host of celebrities were seen at Madison Square Garden for Monday’s Game 2 showdown, including another enigmatic Knicks fan – Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet.
Chalamet, sporting a blue-and-orange vintage Knicks Adidas jacket, animatedly cheered his team on.
The A-lister was frequently seen rising to his feet to applaud the Knicks stars, shouting out words of encouragement.
Chalamet is a renowned New York sports fan and has often been seen at MSG to take in the Knicks action.
However, unlike last season, Chalamet was spotted without girlfriend Kylie Jenner in tow.
Throughout the 2025 playoffs, the media personality was seen by her beau’s side for courtside date nights.
Timothee Chalamet was one of several A-list names in attendance for Monday’s Knicks game
Instead, the Marty Supreme actor was seated near Ben Stiller, another notorious Knicks fan.
The pair were captured sharing a laugh together and chatting throughout the game as they soaked up the action.
Chalamet, who once won a pair of Knicks tickets in 2010 in a social media contest, and Stiller have frequently been front and center of the celebrity seats at Madison Square Garden.
Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee was also snapped cheering on the home team from celebrity row.
The gymnast kept it casual in a white tank top and blue jeans, finishing off her look with a diamante Olympic rings pendant.
