After New York secured its first NBA title in over five decades, chaos erupted outside Madison Square Garden, where an overly enthusiastic Knicks supporter vandalized a police car amid the celebrations. Thousands filled the streets of Midtown to mark the occasion.
On Saturday night, two individuals were recorded jumping on a car, aggressively smashing its windshield, as seen in footage shared online.
Fans gathered to celebrate the Knicks’ thrilling 94-90 win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The atmosphere was electric.
In another incident, NYPD officers were seen subduing an overly excited fan while pushing back others. The detained man, dressed in a Knicks Finals sweatshirt, was handcuffed momentarily before being released and forced onto the sidewalk.
By early Sunday, it was uncertain how many arrests had occurred during the frenzy. Interestingly, a Spurs supporter attempted to leap into a police car to escape the crowd surrounding it.
As the night unfolded, hundreds of officers in riot gear descended upon the area, clearing out spaces on W. 31st Street. Reports indicated that several individuals were apprehended and taken to the ground as the remaining crowd dispersed.
Officers on horseback were positioned at the 8th Street intersection, working to break up the revelers milling around the arena. Some officers noted that this was the first time they had donned such protective equipment on city streets since the pandemic.
One officer remarked, “In my 20 years on the job, I’ve never had to wear riot gear.”
As celebrations continued, the crowd moved to Times Square, with many donning Knicks merchandise and boarding MTA buses to keep the party alive. Knicks owner James Dolan, cheering for his team from San Antonio, urged fans to celebrate responsibly.
“We hope everyone in New York is safe tonight,” Dolan advised reporters after the game. “Okay, celebrate, but please be safe.”
On Saturday, Knicks supporters flocked to the city, eager to experience the finals atmosphere. “It feels great,” said Yanal Zeid. “The city is electrified now. It’s incredible to see everyone united like this.”
This is breaking news. Please check back for the latest information.
