Knicks Fans Riot After Game 3 Loss, Police Use Pepper Spray
Violence erupted at a Knicks watch party in Bryant Park, Manhattan, on Monday night after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, prompting police in riot gear to deploy pepper spray as massive brawls broke out among the estimated 7,000 fans in attendance. Twenty-one people were taken into custody and five NYPD officers were injured during the chaos, according to Fox News.
Background: A Historic Finals Run Turns Volatile
The Knicks entered the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, ending a 27-year drought that has electrified New York City. After sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on May 26, fans flooded the streets in celebration. However, the excitement has increasingly given way to disorder. Following the Knicks’ Game 2 victory on June 5, 26 people were arrested and an officer was assaulted outside Madison Square Garden, as reported by Fox News.
The Game 3 Incident
Monday’s watch party was originally planned for outside Madison Square Garden but was relocated to Bryant Park on short notice after the Secret Service and NYPD canceled the MSG event due to security concerns surrounding President Donald Trump’s attendance at the game. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the alternative venue on Monday morning.
According to CBS New York, the crowd outside the official watch party area grew increasingly rowdy and destructive as the game progressed. Fans took over 42nd Street, climbing on vehicles, ripping out street signs, breaking tree branches, and throwing glass objects at each other and at officers.
Video footage captured one individual using a ripped-down bus sign as a weapon, swinging it at others during a brawl on 42nd Street. Other fans were seen climbing NYPD barricade trucks, setting fire to a Spurs t-shirt, and chasing a San Antonio fan across the street. Chants of “Knicks in five” and “We want Wemby” rang out amid the chaos.
Arrests and Injuries
The NYPD reported that 21 people were taken into custody. Eight were arrested and charged — two for assaulting an officer, and others for criminal possession of weapons and menacing. The remaining 13 were released with criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct. Five NYPD officers sustained injuries during the incident.
NYPD PBA President Patrick Hendry condemned the violence, stating: “Last night was another shameful display from individuals who are more interested in brawling with each other, ripping up streets signs and hurling objects at cops than supporting their team.” He called on elected leaders to “send a stronger message and make it crystal clear that this behavior won’t be tolerated,” as quoted by CBS New York.
A City Hall spokesperson responded by saying Mayor Mamdani wants all New Yorkers to “celebrate and enjoy this run across the city while respecting one another.”
Security Overhaul for Game 4
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that the watch party for Game 4 on Wednesday will return to outside Madison Square Garden, but with significantly enhanced security measures modeled after Times Square on New Year’s Eve. “Those watch parties will be managed with pens and screening,” Tisch said.
Former NYPD Lt. Darrin Porcher supported the approach, suggesting the use of magnetometers and perimeter searches for those entering watch party venues. “I think one of the main teachable moments would be to set up a perimeter and possibly use magnetometers or some type of search for individuals that are entering the venue,” he told CBS New York.
Analysis and Implications
The escalating violence — from 26 arrests in Game 2 to 21 arrests with five injured officers in Game 3 — highlights a growing public safety challenge during the NBA Finals. The last-minute venue change due to the presidential visit may have contributed to inadequate crowd management, as the hastily arranged Bryant Park location lacked the infrastructure of the planned MSG watch party.
The incidents have also sparked political debate, with the police union criticizing Mayor Mamdani’s administration over public safety messaging. The series, now tied 2-1, is expected to continue drawing massive crowds as New Yorkers flock to celebrate their team’s historic run.
What to Watch For
All eyes will be on Game 4 on Wednesday night, where enhanced security measures will be tested for the first time. The question remains whether the new protocols — including screening and penned-in viewing areas — will be sufficient to prevent a third consecutive night of violence, or whether the passion of a city starved for a championship will continue to boil over into the streets.