The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years Saturday night, rallying from a 16-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio. The victory, capped the franchise’s first title since 1973.
Outside Madison Square Garden, crowds watching on a big screen erupted as the final buzzer sounded. Tens of thousands of people soon poured into the streets across Manhattan, police said.
The celebration quickly turned destructive near Times Square. According to police, some in the crowd clashed with officers, smashed windshields, scaled scaffolding and light poles, and climbed a statue. Bystander video showed people climbing onto and into school buses and attempting to hitch a ride on a moving fire truck.
Around 2 a.m., a 17-year-old was shot near 42nd Street and Broadway. Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots, with people crouching and running for cover. Police said officers took the victim to the hospital because an ambulance could not reach the scene through the crowds. A gun was recovered and three people were taken into custody, authorities said.
No other significant injuries were immediately reported. The Knicks’ victory parade had not been scheduled as of Sunday morning. The franchise’s previous championship came in the 1972-73 season, led by Walt Frazier and Willis Reed.