Police reported dozens of arrests after the team’s first championship since 1973.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — New York’s long wait for another Knicks championship ended Saturday night, but celebrations in Manhattan turned violent after fans flooded streets near Madison Square Garden and Times Square following the team’s 94-90 NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks’ first title in 53 years drew thousands of fans into the streets after Game 5 ended in San Antonio. Police said the crowds included many peaceful fans, but the night also brought arrests, injuries, fires and damage to police, public and private vehicles. The unrest followed several earlier nights of large street gatherings during the Finals, including a chaotic scene after the Knicks’ Game 4 comeback win.
The celebration began as a citywide release of joy after Jalen Brunson scored 45 points and led the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973. Fans poured out of bars, watch parties and apartment buildings, many wearing orange and blue jerseys and shouting team chants. Near Madison Square Garden, people climbed poles, stood on vehicles and blocked streets. “It’s euphoria,” one lifelong fan said as the city marked a basketball moment many New Yorkers had never seen. The mood shifted in parts of Midtown as the crowds grew larger and harder to control.
Police said 63 people were arrested after the championship celebration. The NYPD reported four stabbings and one shooting involving a 17-year-old boy who was struck in the foot and taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Ten officers were injured, including one hit by a glass bottle, according to police accounts. Authorities said charges included assault on a police officer, weapons possession, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Several people received summonses, while others faced formal arrest. Police did not immediately release the names of all those taken into custody.
Vehicle damage became one of the most visible signs of the night’s disorder. Officials reported that five school buses were set on fire or destroyed and that several NYPD vehicles were heavily damaged. Personal cars also were smashed. A shuttle bus tied to World Cup travel was set on fire as crowds moved through Times Square, where buses had been carrying soccer fans after a Brazil-Morocco match earlier in the city. Video from the scene showed flames, smoke and people standing on vehicles as officers moved into nearby streets. It was not immediately clear who started each fire or how much the damage would cost.
The trouble came after several days of tense street scenes around the Knicks’ playoff run. After Game 4, when New York completed a historic 29-point comeback against San Antonio, police said about 10,000 people gathered near Madison Square Garden. Officers reported people jumping on taxis and trucks, lighting fireworks in crowds, throwing bottles, climbing scaffolding and trying to flip a taxi. More than 50 people were taken into custody that night. Police said the Game 5 response included a larger presence because of what had happened earlier in the series.
Inside the basketball story, the Knicks’ win was one of the biggest moments in franchise history. Brunson was named Finals MVP after setting a Knicks Finals record with his 45-point night. New York won the series in five games and ended a drought that dated to the Willis Reed era. The victory also put the current team, led by Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and coach Mike Brown, into a new place in city sports history. The celebration outside the Garden showed the size of that moment, even as the damage and injuries drew a sharp police response.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and city officials had expected large crowds if the Knicks won the title. A ticker-tape parade and City Hall ceremony were announced to honor the team, adding more security planning for the days ahead. Police were expected to review videos, arrest reports and damage records from Saturday night into Sunday. Investigators also were working to sort out which incidents were connected to specific suspects, including the shooting, slashings, bus fires and attacks on vehicles. Officials had not announced a full damage estimate by Sunday afternoon.
By early Sunday, crews were left to clear streets that only hours earlier had been packed with fans. Broken glass, burned vehicle parts and police barricades marked parts of Midtown. Some fans described the scene as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration that got out of hand. Others said the violence should not define the championship. The Knicks’ title still brought rare public joy across the city, from Manhattan bars to neighborhood watch parties in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. But the official record of the night will also include injured officers, wounded civilians, damaged buses and dozens of arrests.
The city now turns from the first hours of celebration to the legal and public safety aftermath. Police said more information on arrests, injuries and charges could be released as reports are completed. The next major public moment will be the Knicks’ championship parade and City Hall ceremony, where officials are expected to balance the city’s celebration with a larger security plan.
Author note: Last updated June 14, 2026.