Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent about $1,000 to attend Game 3 of the N.B.A. finals. He bought a standing-room-only ticket through access to house tickets unavailable to regular fans.

Mayor Mamdani attended the game, which resulted in a loss for the Knicks, alongside some of his former State Legislature colleagues. He clarified his intent to cover his own expenses.

While attending, he avoided sitting on celebrity row or near President Trump, who was in a bulletproof box at Madison Square Garden. Instead, his spot was above the so-called nosebleed section, as his ticket didn’t include a seat.

The ticket purchase was possible due to a common practice where V.I.P.s and well-connected individuals access reserved house seats at sporting and cultural events nationwide. By purchasing the ticket, Mayor Mamdani seemed to comply with city regulations that forbid gifts to public officials.