The New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait for NBA glory on Saturday, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the championship 4-1, but the historic triumph was followed by chaotic celebrations that spilled across New York City overnight.
Thousands of jubilant fans flooded the streets around Madison Square Garden and Times Square after the final buzzer, celebrating the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973 with chants, fireworks and impromptu street parties. However, the festivities soon gave way to scenes of disorder, with reports of vandalism, damaged vehicles, clashes with police and multiple arrests prompting a major security response.
On the court, Jalen Brunson delivered a championship-winning masterclass, scoring a game-high 45 points as the Knicks rallied from another double-digit deficit to complete a remarkable postseason run. Brunson’s performance set a new franchise record for points in an NBA Finals game, surpassing the previous mark of 38 set by Knicks legend Willis Reed in 1970.
Holding a 3-1 series lead entering Game 5 at the Frost Bank Centre, New York found itself trailing early as San Antonio built a 16-point advantage behind the defensive dominance of Victor Wembanyama, who registered five first-half blocks. The Knicks struggled offensively, missing 16 of their first 18 shots and failing to make any of their first 11 two-point attempts.
Yet, as they had throughout the finals, New York mounted another comeback. A late 22-9 run before halftime cut the deficit to three, although Devin Vassell’s buzzer-beater sent the Spurs into the break with a 42-37 lead.
The decisive moment arrived in the fourth quarter when Brunson took control, scoring 13 consecutive Knicks points and giving his team its first lead of the night with just 3:40 remaining. The Spurs were unable to respond as New York held firm to seal only the third NBA championship in franchise history.
Brunson finished with 45 points, while Mikal Bridges added 14 and Josh Hart contributed 13. For San Antonio, rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 points and Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
As celebrations erupted across the city, several groups caused damage to public property, with videos on social media showing fans climbing onto buses, vandalising vehicles and setting one bus ablaze. Police deployed heavily around Midtown Manhattan, using mounted units and protective gear to disperse crowds and make multiple arrests.
The situation escalated further in the early hours of Sunday when gunshots were reported near 42nd Street and Broadway in Times Square, triggering panic among nearby crowds. Preliminary reports indicated no injuries, while investigations remained ongoing.
Amid the celebrations, Knicks owner James Dolan urged supporters to celebrate responsibly.
“We want everybody tonight, in New York, be safe. OK, celebrate, but be safe,” Dolan said after the game.
City officials are now preparing for a championship parade later this week to honour the team, whose title run saw them lose just three games throughout the playoffs and finally bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York after more than five decades.