The New York Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden — but the celebrations that spilled into the surrounding streets turned destructive, and the New York Police Department said 63 people were arrested overnight and into the morning.
Crowds estimated by police in the tens of thousands filled the avenues between Fifth and Ninth around the arena, with revellers lighting fireworks, climbing light poles, traffic signals and scaffolding, and refusing to disperse for hours. Vehicle traffic across a swath of Midtown was blocked late into the night.
The mood turned violent in places. Police said five school buses were destroyed by people setting fires, swinging bats and jumping on them, and that large physical fights broke out within the crowds. At least 10 officers were injured in celebrations across the city.
Charges against those arrested included assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, the NYPD said. Sanitation crews worked through the morning to clear debris from the streets around the Garden.
For the Knicks and their fans, the title ends one of the longest championship droughts in the league — 52 years since the franchise last hoisted the trophy in 1973. The win set off jubilant scenes far beyond Midtown, from the outer boroughs to bars across the tri-state area.
City officials said they would review the policing of the celebration as planning began for a victory parade. Mass gatherings tied to championship wins have repeatedly tested crowd-control plans in major US cities, where jubilation can tip into property damage and arrests within hours of the final buzzer.