In a whirlwind of excitement and chaos, six individuals found themselves in handcuffs outside Madison Square Garden following the New York Knicks’ historic win that secured their place in the NBA finals for the first time in nearly three decades.
The exuberant fans, part of a larger throng of Knicks enthusiasts celebrating their team’s triumph, reportedly engaged in chaotic behavior. According to law enforcement sources, the revelers clambered onto light posts and other structures, obstructed vehicles, vaulted over police barricades, and ignored orders to disperse.
These rowdy celebrations led to disorderly conduct charges, with those involved being issued summonses and subsequently processed at the NYPD’s Midtown South Precinct, as stated by authorities.
Captured on video, one young reveler, seemingly in his early teens, was seen scaling a light pole. As soon as he descended, police officers were quick to detain him, a move that sparked chants of “Let him free!” and resounding boos from the surrounding crowd.
Another clip from the evening’s festivities revealed fans standing on the arena’s iconic marquee and illuminated signs, with onlookers predicting, “You’re going to jail.” The jubilant chaos highlighted the mix of euphoria and unruliness that defined the night.
Another video showed people standing on the iconic arena’s marquee, and the outdoor lit-up signs, as one bystander yelled, “You’re going to jail.”
But an unfazed member of Knicks nation relished the joyful mood – as the hometown team bludgeoned the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 at Rocket Arena, punching their ticket to the championship.
“This is amazing! I waited years for this. I love Jalen Brunson,” he gushed, referring to the Knicks’ guard who was unanimously named the series MVP.
The mob of revelers descended on the Garden despite the NYPD’s move to call off the venue’s usual outdoor watch party during Monday’s playoff game because unruly fans had been clogging the sidewalks during the team’s historic run.
MSG’s permits for the Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 shindig were summarily denied by the city’s Street Activity Permit Office, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Post, with cops reportedly refusing to participate unless fans tone it down a notch.
“Games 1 and 2 have seen progressively more problematic issues at the watch parties outside MSG — six arrests last night alone — so the NYPD will not support more watch parties outside the stadium,” a police department spokesperson confirmed Friday.
“But we will continue to review requests to support parties at alternate sites, like Summer Stage,” the spokesperson added, referring to Central Park’s outdoor amphitheater.
No one was taken into custody outside Radio City Music Hall, which remained under control as orange-and-blue clad fans gathered there Monday night for a watch party, cops said.
