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A Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden drew thousands of fans Friday night, but the celebration after New York’s Game 2 NBA Finals win on June 5 ended with 26 people taken into custody, including one accused of punching a police officer in the face, according to the NYPD.
Police said an estimated 6,500 people attended the watch party outside the arena as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, to take a 2-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals.
The arrests began before the game, police said. Two people were taken into custody on assault charges before tipoff, and another person was arrested for climbing a light pole, according to information provided by the NYPD.
After the game, police said crowds blocked vehicle traffic along Seventh and Eighth avenues from West 31st Street to West 35th Street. People climbed onto food vendor carts, light poles and subway entrances, and multiple people refused police orders and resisted arrest, according to the department's statement.
One person jumped over a barrier and refused to leave, then struck an officer in the face, police said. The officer suffered facial lacerations that required medical treatment, they added.
The New York City Police Benevolent Association identified the injured officer as a woman and said she was “just doing her job, trying to keep everyone safe in the pandemonium following the Knicks Game 2 win.”
“A victory celebration shouldn’t end with blood pouring down a police officer’s face,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement. “This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.”
The same person also bit another officer after being placed under arrest, Hendry said.
Police said multiple people were also arrested for selling counterfeit merchandise near the arena. One of those people had a loaded firearm, according to the NYPD.
In all, 26 people were taken into custody. Seventeen were arrested and charged, while nine others were released with criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct, police said.
The disorder followed earlier friction over playoff crowds outside the Garden. During the Eastern Conference Finals, the NYPD said it would no longer support outdoor watch parties after crowds blocked traffic, threw objects and climbed subway entrances. But the ban did not carry over to the NBA Finals, and fans again gathered outside MSG for Friday night’s Game 2.
Another large crowd could gather outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Monday, June 8. The Knicks return home riding a 13-game postseason winning streak and sitting two wins from their first championship since 1973.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 26 taken into custody after Knicks NBA Finals watch party outside MSG
Continue reading...
Police said an estimated 6,500 people attended the watch party outside the arena as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, to take a 2-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals.
The arrests began before the game, police said. Two people were taken into custody on assault charges before tipoff, and another person was arrested for climbing a light pole, according to information provided by the NYPD.
After the game, police said crowds blocked vehicle traffic along Seventh and Eighth avenues from West 31st Street to West 35th Street. People climbed onto food vendor carts, light poles and subway entrances, and multiple people refused police orders and resisted arrest, according to the department's statement.
One person jumped over a barrier and refused to leave, then struck an officer in the face, police said. The officer suffered facial lacerations that required medical treatment, they added.
The New York City Police Benevolent Association identified the injured officer as a woman and said she was “just doing her job, trying to keep everyone safe in the pandemonium following the Knicks Game 2 win.”
“A victory celebration shouldn’t end with blood pouring down a police officer’s face,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement. “This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.”
The same person also bit another officer after being placed under arrest, Hendry said.
Police said multiple people were also arrested for selling counterfeit merchandise near the arena. One of those people had a loaded firearm, according to the NYPD.
In all, 26 people were taken into custody. Seventeen were arrested and charged, while nine others were released with criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct, police said.
The disorder followed earlier friction over playoff crowds outside the Garden. During the Eastern Conference Finals, the NYPD said it would no longer support outdoor watch parties after crowds blocked traffic, threw objects and climbed subway entrances. But the ban did not carry over to the NBA Finals, and fans again gathered outside MSG for Friday night’s Game 2.
Another large crowd could gather outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Monday, June 8. The Knicks return home riding a 13-game postseason winning streak and sitting two wins from their first championship since 1973.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 26 taken into custody after Knicks NBA Finals watch party outside MSG
Continue reading...
