Historic Win, Chaotic Celebrations
New York Knicks Win First NBA Title in 53 Years Amid Chaotic Celebrations
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The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals AP. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points to clinch the title, ending a drought of 19,392 days since the Knicks last won in 1973 TSN.
But the celebration turned ugly fast. Fans flooded Broadway and Times Square, smashing police vehicle windows and climbing public infrastructure The Washington Post. Arrests piled up across the city, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ticker-tape parade for June 18 NYC.gov.
Brunson's 45-Point Game Seals Historic Title
Brunson carried the Knicks when it mattered most. He averaged 32.6 points per game across the Finals, earning MVP honors ESPN. In Game 5, the Knicks trailed by 16 points before rallying to win 94-90. It was only the third championship in the franchise's 80-year history Basketnews.com.
The Knicks also made NBA history this season. They became the first franchise to win both the NBA Cup — the in-season tournament — and the NBA Finals in the same year Basketnews.com. Knicks owner James Dolan interrupted Josh Hart's post-game press conference with a plea: "Please be safe. Don't get hurt, don't hurt anybody" AP.
Broadway Turns to Bedlam After the Final Buzzer
Within minutes of the final whistle, celebrations outside Madison Square Garden spiraled out of control. Fans smashed windows on police vehicles and tore down street signs The Washington Post. Violence had already been building throughout the series — 21 arrests followed Game 3 and 56 followed Game 4 CBS News.
One moment cut through the chaos. A 32-year-old father named Balladoli Mieses went viral after confronting fans ripping out signs. "What are y'all doing? This is our city," he said. "We've got to take care of our city for the future" CBS News. The NYPD is also investigating a gang assault on a 17-year-old near MSG that left the teen in critical condition New York Post.
Spurs Fans Felt the Brunt of New York's Fervor
In San Antonio, the mood was tense all series. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said his office prepared for the worst when New York fans flooded the city. "San Antonio is cut from a different cloth," he said, adding that players' families needed police escorts Heavy. An egg was thrown at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama during the series MySA.
Knicks captain Brunson tried to strike a balance after earlier incidents. "I love our fans, but we've got to be better," he said. "You never want to be disrespectful" Basketnews.com. The Knicks swept the regular-season record books too — entering the Finals after winning 15 of their first 16 playoff games TSN.
Parade Set for June 18, City Counts the Cost
Mayor Mamdani set the victory parade for Thursday, June 18. The date was chosen deliberately — it avoids a World Cup match between France and Senegal at MetLife Stadium on June 16 Heavy. Mamdani celebrated the win in a statement, closing with the Knicks fan rallying cry: "Bing bong" NYC.gov.
The economic picture is mixed. Premium resale tickets for Game 5 topped $100,000 MySA. The parade is expected to bring record revenue to Manhattan hospitality. But vandalism cleanup costs are still being tallied, and investigators are reviewing footage from the PRISM livestreaming app to identify those who committed assaults near MSG New York Post.
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