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Fans are jubilant and mostly orderly after Knicks prevail in NBA Finals opener
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 4, 2026
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 4, 2026
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New Yorkers in all corners of the city had a ball Wednesday night as the Knicks clinched a win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Even though the players were on the Spurs’ home turf in Texas, throngs of fans outside Madison Square Garden would have made any tourist think otherwise.
The festivities were largely peaceful and boisterous, though NYPD officials said they took seven people into custody near the intersection of West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue around 11:15 p.m., just as the game was ending. Five of those people were given criminal court summonses, while two others were facing unspecified charges that were still pending early Thursday.
Social media highlights from among the Midtown crowds included a massive painting of point guard Jalen Brunson, spontaneous dancing, costumes, Timberlands, a robot in a jersey, and a whole lot of blue and orange. In most of the videos, police are seen taking a hands-off approach.
At least one of the arrests appears to have happened after several people climbed atop an ambulance near the arena, video shows.
Spokespeople for the NYPD and City Hall did not immediately say whether Midtown watch parties would be allowed for the second game in the series on Friday night, which will also be played in San Antonio.
The police department briefly quashed the spontaneous gatherings, with officials blaming social media influencers for encouraging rowdy behavior.
But the city reversed course for Wednesday night’s game. The city approved permits for watch parties in Central Park and outside Madison Square Garden, and officials said they would make decisions for the other games on a case-by-case basis.
Midtown was not the only place to tune in. New Yorkers took to social media to show homemade setups, with people gathering in lawn chairs on the sidewalk around flat-screen TVs affixed to cars and trucks.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was captured rooting on the team at Locksmith Bar, a Peruvian restaurant on Broadway and West 192nd Street in Washington Heights.
The Knicks’ postseason has generated an estimated $202 million in economic activity so far and could reach a total of $465 million if the team plays all of its possible home games in the NBA Finals, according to the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
Tagged
NBA Finals
knicks
madison square garden
manhattan
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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