Hotels in New York City, New York - USA

The National Basketball Association's regular season begins in November and runs through the end of April. The two professional teams in the New York area are the New York Knicks , who play at Madison Square Garden, and the New Jersey Nets , whose venue is the Continental Airlines Arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey. The New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association also play their games at Madison Square Garden during the summer.

The Knicks have a loyal following that counts such celebrities as Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Sarah Jessica Parker and a contingent of Baldwin brothers. It is hard to get tickets to see them play, even during down years. Long playing in the long shadow of the Knicks, the Nets have emerged as one of the more exciting teams in the NBA, and if you are willing to make the pilgrimage to New Jersey, you should find it fairly easy to get tickets.

Madison Square Garden 7th Ave (between 31st and 33rd sts); tickets $10-60; tel 212/465-6741. Subway #1, #2, #3, #9, #A, #C and #E to 34th St Penn Station.

Continental Airlines Arena Meadowlands Sports Complex off routes 3, 17, and Turnpike exit 16W, East Rutherford, New Jersey; box office 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm; tickets $30-75; tel 1-800/7NJ-NETS, www.nba.com/nets .