Euphoric New York Knicks fans took to the streets of New York on Saturday night (13), crowding intersections and climbing on lampposts and buses to celebrate the team’s first NBA title in more than 50 years.
By early Sunday morning (14), several people had been detained, reported the NYPD (New York Police Department), adding that details on the number of detainees and possible charges would be released later.
For fans gathered at a packed party to watch the game outside Madison Square Garden, the night was marked by strong emotion.
When the Knicks confirmed their victory, the celebration exploded, with fans shaking hands and chanting.
“I’m emotionally destroyed right now… I knew we could do it,” one fan told CNN right after the final whistle.
The game was played in Texas, but Knicks fans gathered at parties and big screens across the city to watch the team’s reaction in the final quarter and the .
Traffic around Madison Square Garden came to a complete standstill after the match, while police maintained a heavy presence in the area.
Although the celebration was largely peaceful, some fans climbed onto road signs and onto vehicles. In Times Square, chants of “Let’s go Knicks” echoed through the streets.
As the celebration progressed into the early hours, some people set off fireworks in Times Square. Near Madison Square Garden, police officers repeatedly ordered the crowd to move back as they made arrests and tried to clear the roads.
Elsewhere in Times Square, agents intervened after a group began damaging a parked school bus, tearing off part of the hood. The vehicle was also seen being rocked by the crowd.
On Sixth Avenue, tensions rose around 2 a.m. after several police vehicles were damaged and their windshields were broken. Bottles and coolers were thrown at police officers as reinforcements arrived at the scene.
Later, after a small fire in a dumpster, mounted police formed a line to clear people from the street, while crowd control teams positioned themselves behind them. The horses wore eye protection equipment.
Earlier, Knicks owner James Dolan had asked fans for restraint.
“We want everyone in New York to be safe tonight, right? Celebrate, but celebrate safely,” he said at a post-match press conference.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that a victory parade will be held on Thursday.
“The celebration will mark the first confetti parade in the history of the Knicks and will honor a team that brought an NBA title to a city that waited generations for this moment,” the city said in a statement.
Atmosphere of expectation before the game
Before Saturday’s match, New York was already experiencing an atmosphere of euphoria.
Metal fences surrounded Madison Square Garden, while police checkpoints were set up around Penn Station to prevent a repeat of the , when dozens of fans were detained after a historic comeback by the Knicks.
With the World Cup being played on the other side of the Hudson River and a sold-out concert by the band 5 Seconds of Summer inside Madison Square Garden, the city’s streets brought together fans of different nationalities and sporting events.
Thousands of fans arrived early at the arena area, transforming one of the city’s busiest areas into a sea of colorful shirts as they looked for the best seats to watch the match in reserved areas.
When the Knicks win, the city changes
When the Knicks win, New York transforms.
Horns become percussion instruments and fire escapes become improvised stands. Songs like “Empire State of Mind,” “New York, New York” and “Juicy” echo from speakers, apartment windows and subway cars, as even the most indifferent New Yorkers join in the chants.
But the euphoria quickly gave way to chaos after Game 4 on Wednesday.
Thousands of fans took to the streets around Madison Square Garden. Some climbed traffic lights, scaffolding and cranes; others jumped onto moving vehicles. Videos showed people riding in taxis, hanging from structures and storming intersections.
According to police, 56 people were taken into custody after Game 4, including 15 formal arrests. Ten police officers were injured.
Authorities say fans interrupted traffic, tried to overturn a taxi, released fireworks into the crowd, damaged vehicles, threw objects at police officers, participated in fights and climbed buildings, poles and construction equipment.
Crowds in the Madison Square Garden area surpassed 10,000 that night, in scenes similar to other playoff celebrations.
On Monday, a 39-year-old man wearing a San Antonio Spurs jersey was beaten after Game 3 while walking along West 47th Street, about 15 blocks from the arena. According to the police, he was harassed by people who tried to rip off his shirt, knocked to the ground, attacked and had his cell phone stolen. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
Madison Square Garden has canceled its official Game 4 party following safety precautions.
Arena executives harshly criticized the city hall and police security plan, which provided for a wide isolation perimeter and reinforced crowd control measures.
James Dolan stated that the restrictions were “designed to prevent people from celebrating around Madison Square Garden” and said the arena would not install outdoor video screens for Game 4.
In response, Mayor Mamdani wrote on the X network before the match:
“Madison Square Garden requested authorization for a viewing area for between 500 and 999 fans. We approved the authorization for 999 people.”
