A 17-year-old was shot and 63 people were arrested after crowds in Midtown Manhattan turned destructive following the New York Knicks' 94–90 Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Five yellow school buses were set alight or destroyed, the NYPD said, after they had been used to shuttle World Cup football fans back to Times Square following a match between Brazil and Morocco.
Gunshots were reported near 42nd Street and Broadway at around 02:00 EDT on Sunday; the 17-year-old was wounded in the foot and transported to hospital in an NYPD vehicle after an ambulance could not access 43rd Street, the NYPD said. Three people of interest were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered.
Police said other disorder included four slashings or stabbings, destruction of private vehicles, people lighting fireworks in large crowds, brawls and crowds refusing to disperse. Police cars were damaged with bats and had windshields shattered, and ten police officers were injured, including one who was punched in the face and another who was struck with a glass bottle. Sixty-three people were arrested on charges that included assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.
Knicks owner James Dolan interrupted Knicks player Josh Hart's news conference and said, "We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they're celebrating, we want them to have a great time. Please be safe. Don't get hurt, don't hurt anybody." The NYPD said crowds became "increasingly destructive" with "many incidents of incredibly reckless and dangerous behaviour."
Officials said earlier in the night a party atmosphere had taken hold across the city, with emergency service workers shouting "Let's go Knicks" through loudspeakers, strangers hugging and shaking hands and drivers honking their horns. "Oh my God. It's like New Year's Eve times 20," Carol Marino said. "I'm so overwhelmed. I'm so happy," Mathieu Ogno said. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office announced official celebrations will take place on Thursday with a parade and a city hall ceremony.