Celebrations of the New York Knicks' NBA championship turned violent in parts of Manhattan, as jubilation over the team's first title in decades spilled into unrest. More than 60 people were arrested after large crowds formed near Madison Square Garden in the hours following the team's clinching win.
According to police, the scene near the arena turned chaotic. The NYPD reported a shooting, along with slashings, burned buses, damaged police vehicles and injured officers, as authorities struggled to keep the swelling crowds under control in the heart of the city.
Buses were among the targets caught up in the disorder. Police said some of the vehicles involved were being used to transport people from Manhattan over to MetLife Stadium for World Cup games taking place at the same time, adding to the strain on the city as two major events overlapped.
Not every gathering descended into trouble. Officials and witnesses noted that several of the celebrations taking place around the city remained peaceful, with many fans marking the historic championship without incident even as the violence flared elsewhere.
City and state leaders publicly embraced the win. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, who were attending a World Cup match at the time, posted messages on social media congratulating the Knicks and praising what they called a memorable championship season for New York.
Attention now turns to a planned celebration of the title. A victory parade is expected to take place on Thursday, with officials saying more information would be released, even as police continue to account for the unrest that accompanied the championship night.