Mariska Hargitay Struggles to Watch NBA Finals While Ref Blocks Her View During Game 3

The New York Knicks fan is a courtside staple at Madison Square Garden, where she’s made a habit of postgame hugs with Jalen Brunson

Mariska Hargitay seemingly had trouble seeing her “magnificent human” — a.k.a Jalen Brunson — during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Law & Order: SVU star, who was seated next to co-star Christopher Meloni, was stationed directly behind an official for much of the matchup.

In a clip from the game, the actress — who sported a Knicks jersey and was joined by her son August, 19 — strained to see the on-the-court action from her courtside seats.

The Knicks fan, 62, and the Knicks star, 29, have a special connection, Brunson revealed last year on his podcast.

In a guest spot on the Roommates Show with Jalen Brunson & Josh Hart, another Knicks fan, Ben Stiller, got the scoop about the NBA star’s relationship with Hargitay.

“I just remember my dad always watching the show,” Brunson told Stiller about his father, Knicks assistant Rick Brunson. “It was like, you just hear the iconic [theme song] ‘don-don’ all the time in the house. My dad also watches the TV incredibly loud, so you hear it throughout the house.”

These days, the three-time All-Star hears the sound of his phone when Hargitay texts him.

“I don’t really remember, but it was more of like ‘Good job, congratulations,’ ” Brunson, told NBA Today host Malika Andrews last week about Hargitay’s communication following Game 1 in San Antonio.

Hours before Game 3, Hargitay — who often hugs Brunson following games at Madison Square Garden — appeared on the Today show and professed her “love” for the point guard.

And in preparing for Hargitay’s Broadway show, Every Brilliant Thing, Brunson has proved to be inspirational.

“I just thought about him and his inspiration and his humility and his work ethic, to say, ‘You can do hard things. No matter what you can do hard things,’ ” she said, adding, “I love him.”

She added, “He is so singular, and magnificent. He is a magnificent human.”