NEW YORK, NY – What began as an exciting comeback victory for the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals quickly turned into chaos outside Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, resulting in 56 arrests and injuries to 10 police officers.
Massive Crowds Turn Unruly
An estimated 10,000 fans flooded the streets surrounding The Garden, stretching between Fifth and Eighth avenues. As the crowd swelled, celebrations devolved into reckless behavior both during and after the game.
The NYPD released a statement condemning the dangerous actions, explaining that the chaos justified their heavily increased presence in the area.
Vandals Target Vehicles, Police, and Players
According to police, disorderly conduct charges stemmed from multiple violent and destructive acts across midtown, including:
- Vehicle Attacks: Crowds jumped on moving taxis and trucks, attempted to physically flip a taxi, and climbed onto NYPD vehicles—shattering windshields and causing significant damage to four police cars.
- Projectiles Thrown: Raucous fans ignited fireworks inside dense crowds and threw glass bottles at police. One officer was hospitalized after being struck in the head with a bottle.
- Looting: A tractor-trailer was broken into, with stolen items thrown into the crowd and at responding officers.
- Targeting Players: As the visiting San Antonio Spurs returned to their hotel, members of the crowd threw trash at star player Victor Wembanyama, who appeared to be struck by an egg.
In total, 41 of the 56 individuals arrested were released with criminal court summonses, while others face severe charges, including assault on a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.
City Officials Debate Watch Parties Ahead of Game 5
The chaos comes amid a political feud between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Knicks owner James Dolan regarding large fan watch parties.
Despite the violence and ongoing safety concerns, Mayor Mamdani indicated Thursday that the city is cracking the door open to permit larger fan gatherings for the upcoming Game 5 on Saturday night.
