Knicks end 53-year drought with 4-1 Finals win over Spurs, New York erupts in celebration
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to capture their first NBA championship since 1973, triggering massive street celebrations and some incidents across New York City.
Sealing the title on the road
The Knicks closed out the NBA Finals with a 94-90 victory at San Antonio on Saturday night, taking the series 4-1. Jalen Brunson poured in 45 points, delivering the third road win of the series and the decisive blow that returned the franchise to the top after more than half a century. The team had seized a 3-1 lead earlier in the week and arrived in Texas knowing a fifth win would end 53 years of waiting.
A drought of 53 years broken
The 2026 title is the Knicks' first since the 1973 season, a span that stretched across generations of fans. As the final seconds ticked away, the city's long wait gave way to an outpouring of emotion. Around 3,000 supporters had gathered in a fenced-off viewing zone outside Madison Square Garden, where tears mixed with drumbeats and chanting. Inside Radio City Music Hall, confetti rained down during a watch party, while the Wollman Rink crowd sang along with Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York."
Celebrations across the city
Thousands of fans poured into the streets the moment the game ended. Tenth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen and the East Village filled with crowds dancing and waving Knicks flags. St. Marks Place became an open-air party, with a resident playing trumpet from an apartment window and spectators climbing fire escapes, scaffolding and lamp posts. Fireworks lit the sky over Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, and car horns blared into the early morning hours. The songs "Empire State of Mind" and "New York, New York" echoed through neighbourhoods.
Security preparations and sporadic violence
Authorities had braced for massive turnouts after scenes from Game 4, when a dramatic comeback sparked chaotic celebrations. Metal barricades and checkpoints were erected around Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. Police remained on high alert. In the aftermath of the title clinch, disorder broke out in several spots. A group in Manhattan's 42nd Street severely damaged a school bus while bystanders cheered. Video from near the arena showed people jumping on a patrol car and causing significant damage. Police blocked subway entrances to keep rioters out and reported several arrests.
