Sen. Ted Cruz stood courtside, gleefully grinning during pregame on the night the Houston Rockets were bounced from the 2018 NBA playoffs in a devastating Game 7 Western Conference finals home loss to the Golden State Warriors, a marquee matchup the Texas Republican was able to watch for free thanks to a powerful Republican donor.

Cruz attended the May 28, 2018, game with a ticket gifted to him by Robert Marling, the CEO of Woodforest National Bank and a financial supporter who contributed to his Senate and presidential campaigns.

Marling has contributed to many other Republicans, including President Donald Trump, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Alabama judge Roy Moore, who lost a 2017 special Senate election that was derailed by allegations of his sexual misconduct with underage girls.

The ticket cost $5,175, according to Cruz’s financial disclosure form filed on Aug. 12.

The Senate Ethics Committee general gift rule follows that: “A Member, officer, or employee may accept a gift, other than cash or cash equivalent, having a value of less than $50, provided that the source of the gift is not a registered lobbyist, foreign agent, or private entity that retains or employs such individuals. The cumulative value of gifts that may be accepted from any one source in a calendar year must be less than $100.”