What began as a massive gathering to follow the NBA Finals ended with arrests, confrontations and several injured officers in downtown Manhattan. New York authorities reported that eight people were arrested and another 13 received court summons after incidents that occurred Monday night during a public party to watch the third game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

The activity was organized by the city in Bryant Park and brought together nearly 7,000 fans. The match coincided with the Knicks' 115-111 loss to San Antonio, a result that reduced the New York franchise's lead to 2-1 in the Finals.

Rallies of Knicks fans had become common during the team's historic playoff run. However, this time the scenario was different. The outdoor area of ​​Madison Square Garden remained practically closed to the public due to security measures implemented by the presence of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who attended the game as a guest of James Dolan, owner of the franchise.

According to the NYPD, most attendees enjoyed the event without incident, but a group of people got into altercations that forced the intervention of security forces.

Fights, damage and new security restrictions

Authorities said some fans blocked traffic and refused to leave the area once the game was over. Fights were also recorded on public roads and objects were thrown, including glass items, according to the police version and videos released of the events.

In a statement, the New York Police Department said that “the crowd became increasingly rowdy, violent and destructive, and there were numerous incidents of disorderly and dangerous behavior.”

The institution added that several members of the group "engaged in incredibly reckless behavior; there were large physical and violent fights that caused multiple injuries," according to AP.

Two of those arrested face accusations related to attacks against police officers. Police said five officers were injured during the riot, although they did not provide details on the severity of the injuries or the identity of those detained.

From the mayor's office, spokesman Sam Raskin highlighted that the “overwhelming majority” of fans followed the meeting peacefully. However, he warned that “fights and other disruptive incidents, including assaults on police officers, in various parts of the city are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Spurs player Victor Wembanyama also reacted to reports of the incidents. “My thought, of course, is that we can't forget that it's a game,” he said. "We're just playing a game out there. I'm all for passion, but respecting each other. It's unacceptable."

For the fourth game of the series, scheduled for this Wednesday in New York, a new party for fans will be held near Madison Square Garden. The Police announced that they will maintain security measures similar to those of the previous meeting, will limit access to a thousand people with a ticket and will subject all attendees to entry controls.

The decision drew criticism from Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., which called Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch “New York City's biggest spoilers.”