Euphoric fans flooded midtown Manhattan on Saturday night to celebrate the New York Knicks’ first championship in 53 years, after the team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals.
Scenes of Celebration and Chaos
Thousands of fans took to the streets around Madison Square Garden, with some climbing on school buses and police vehicles, setting off flares, and tearing apart a Spurs jersey. Police made several arrests and maintained a heavy presence throughout the area.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson scored 45 points to help propel the team to victory, and fans carried cardboard cutouts of his signature hand gesture. During the game, a jersey-wearing robot wandered midtown, taking selfies with fans.
After the final buzzer, fans erupted with joy, ordering food from halal carts and dancing along lines of police. However, some incidents of disorder were reported, including a fan throwing a traffic cone and another jumping off a police vehicle.
Police detained a fan near Bryant Park and collapsed a restaurant umbrella that had been dropped on the street. Overall, the atmosphere was described as a mix of ecstasy and chaos, reflecting the long-awaited triumph for the Knicks and their loyal supporters.
