NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - New York ⁠Knicks fever has engulfed the five boroughs this week, with the team just one win away from snapping a ⁠53-year NBA title drought and the kickoff of the first of the region's eight World Cup matches across ‌the river on Saturday taking a backseat for many locals.

Brazil and Morocco will have the eyes of the world when they kick off the soccer action in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday. But the attention of born-and-raised New Yorkers will be on the Knicks when they tip off ​against the San Antonio Spurs in Texas in Game 5 of the championship ⁠series two-and-a-half hours later.