The New York Knicks celebrated their first NBA championship in 53 years with a 94‑90 win over the San Antonio Spurs, igniting street parties that stretched from mid‑town to the waterfront. Fans gathered in bars, on rooftops and in open plazas, chanting “Let’s go Knicks” and cheering at loudspeakers.
In the early night the mood shifted sharply when gunshots echoed near Times Square. Police report a 17‑year‑old was shot in the foot, and several yellow school buses, which had carried World Cup fans, were set on fire. The flames spread rapidly as onlookers clambered onto the buses and filmed the blaze.
NYPD officers dealt with bat‑fights, shattered windshields, and flashings of fireworks in the crowds. Ten officers were injured, including one punched in the face and another struck with a glass bottle. The force arrested 63 people, charging them with assault on police, possession of weapons, vandalism and obstruction of government.
City officials announced a planned parade and city hall ceremony to celebrate the Knicks’ triumph on Thursday, hoping to bring calm after the chaos that shocked New Yorkers.
