Exclusive

Kate Upton & Blake Griffin Holding Hands at NYC Hot Spot

Source tells ! News exclusive details about Sports Illustrated swimsuit beauty and NBA star's night at Beauty & Essex

By Rebecca Macatee Jun 20, 2013 6:55 PMTags
Blake Griffin, Kate UptonGetty Images

Looks like the sparks are starting to fly between Kate Upton and NBA hunk Blake Griffin!

A source tells E! News the Sports Illustrated swimsuit beauty and Clippers forward got "very cozy" Wednesday night at NYC hot spot Beauty & Essex.

Blake, 24, showed up to meet a group of friends, including teammate DeAndre Jordan, around 10:30 p.m. wearing a navy and white button-down shirt and salmon-colored pants! Kate, 21, strolled in around 11:30 p.m., joining Blake and his pals while looking sexy in skinny jeans, a nice blouse and heels.

The group noshed on empanadas, lobster tacos and stuffed peppers. And yes, Blake's crew indulged in some Don Julio Tequila shots. (Wonder how they're feeling today!)

While everyone in the group, which included a few Beauty & Essex staffers who are longtime friends of Blake's, appeared to be having "a great time," it was the basketball star and Kate who were cozying up to one another in the club. A source says the pair "were cuddling and holding hands, although they were not seen making out. They seemed pretty cute together."

Afterwards, Kate, Blake and his pals hit up Avenue nightclub, where a source says "they closed the place down!"

Fun night.

—Reporting by Ken Baker and Ruth O'Neill