New York City was a picture of pandemonium on Saturday night as thousands of its raucous citizens invaded the streets to celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA Championship in 53 years.
The Knicks completed a fairytale playoffs with the ultimate prize as they produced another epic comeback on the road to beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in a dramatic Game 5 in front of a star-studded crowd that included even Prince Harry.
The Knicks won the series 4-1, rallying from double-digit deficits in all four of those victories. The deficit was 16 on Saturday night but the Knicks were never fazed. And neither were their fans. No, they were crazed.
Back in New York, the city had become a sea of orange and blue as fans teemed into the area near the team’s Manhattan arena to watch on bar TVs and big screens for the historic moment. And, they were rewarded.
Fireworks shot off in New York within mere seconds of the final horn in San Antonio, sparking a celebration decades in the making.
Across the five boroughs, the Big Apple erupted into a cacophony of thunderous cries, car horns and sirens – the soundtrack to a championship.
New York City was a picture of pandemonium as the Knicks won the NBA Championship
In photos captured by Daily Mail, fans in Brooklyn were seen climbing on top of the city’s local buses as the celebrations ran riot througout all five boroughs of the city
The Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years with a 94-90 win over the Spurs
1,800 miles away, Knicks owner James Dolan begged New Yorkers to rein in the bedlam in the Big Apple.
‘We’re going to have a parade on Thursday,’ he declared from his press conference in San Antonio. ‘But everybody tonight in New York, be safe. Celebrate but be safe,’
His pleas fell on deaf ears.
New Yorkers arrived at Madison Square Garden in their droves, descending on the Knicks iconic home to throw the greatest garden party the city had ever witnessed.
NYPD officers in riot gear swiftly moved into action to control the wild masses unleashed on Manhattan’s Midtown.
Mayhem broke out as the jubilant supporters sparked chaotic scenes, a handful taking their celebrations too far.
A police vehicle was reportedly left heavily-damaged after crowds climbed on top of it near MSG, shattering its windshield.
Despite the pandemonium, the entirety of New York was floating in dreamland, some with their feet quite literally off the ground.
Police officers armed in riot gear prepare to disperse the crowd at Bryant Park
Fans set off flares at the Midtown park to celebrate the Knicks’ long-awaited victory
Hoardes of fans take over the roof of a New York school bus amid the chaos
Others managed to make their way inside the vehicle as the hung out of windows
Knicks fans are pictured wildly celebrating the victory at the Game 5 watch party
The ambitious in their midst were unable to stay grounded, clambering to the top of subway and train entrances at Penn Station. They inched perilously close to the edge as they jumped in raucous scenes.
Others took to the tops of yellow school buses or lampposts to obtain a better vantage point of the celebrations.
At other iconic landmarks throughout the city, New Yorkers painted Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park and the heart of Brooklyn in orange and blue.
One neighborhood was overtaken by fans, who took up every single inch of the road. They heartwarmingly burst into a rendition of Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys, capturing the heart and soul of the city.
Many hung over the edge of their balconies to join the spontaneous musical moment, while those at street level turned on the torches on their phones as they swayed from side to side.
The fire department did not appear to be grappling with the same issues as their police counterparts, however.
Members of the FDNY were seen embracing the jubilations. Some were even captured leaning out of the window of a fire truck to give high fives to the fans passing by in the street.
New York is fondly dubbed the city that never sleeps. On Saturday night, it lived up to its reputation.
One rowdy supporter clambers on top of school bus in Times Square
Across the five borough, thousands took to the streets to host their own watch parties
Two NYPD officers are pictured trying to manage the chaos outside of MSG
NYPD officers were swiftly deployed on horseback to the iconic Manhattan arena
Even the subway cars were rocking. Nearing 1am, long after the buzzer sounded in San Antonio, fans were still zipping through the city – some making their way home, others only just heading out to the city.
Even deep under the city, deafening chants of ‘Jalen Brunson,’ the Finals MVP, rang out throughout the carriages.
Meanwhile, back in San Antonio, the Knicks’ celebrity cohort of fans were also left elated.
Unsurprisingly, Timothee Chalamet continued his passionate fandom, having made the journey down to Texas for Game 5.
The Marty Supreme actor has been courtside throughout the playoffs and Game 5 was no exception with Chalamet not missing out on the chance to see his beloved Knicks clinch the championship.
However, the Hollywood heartthrob’s girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, did not appear to have joined her beau for the clash.
Sydney Sweeney and boyfriend Scooter Braun stole the show as they found themselves front and center at Frost Bank Center.
Officers attempt to keep fans at bay as they depserately try to reach the home of the Knicks
Some supporters became particularly raucous, taking their wild celebrations a step too far
The actress wore a unique Knicks jersey-style top with New York superstar Jalen Brunson’s No 11 splashed on the front.
She was later seen slipping into an oversized vintage Knicks sports jacket, showing her support for the visiting team.
Sweeney’s appearance left many stunned in San Antonio, including NBA analyst Charles Barkley.
ABC’s coverage panned across the star-studded crowd showing the 28-year-old star among the famous faces.
In a delayed reaction, Barkley said ‘Sydney Sweeney is here?’
The usual culprits, including Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, were also among the A-list names in attendance.
Prince Harry’s appearance came as a surprise to many fans, however, as he sat alongside NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
The royal, who attended without wife Meghan Markle, was reportedly invited to the game by Silver, as he is in town for the Warrior Games, according to Page Six.
Back in San Antonio, devoted Knicks fan Timothee Chalamet watched the team seal its win
Sydney Sweeney headlined the A-list New York Knicks fans who made the trip to San Antonio
The prince attended the game with JP Lane, an Army Veteran and Warrior Games athlete.
Jalen Brunson spearheaded the comeback, scoring 45 points, including 13 straight for New York in the fourth quarter.
The captain could barely contain his tears as he choked up while emotionally declaring, ‘I have no words,’ during the postgame celebrations.
Brunson, fittingly, closed with a flourish. He set a Knicks record for points in a finals game; it had been 38 by Willis Reed against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the 1970 series. It now belongs to the left-handed point guard who changed the franchise’s fortunes when he arrived four years ago.
Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart – the other two parts of the ‘Nova Knicks’ trio that also includes Brunson, three players who were NCAA champions at Villanova and teamed up in New York to try to do the same – combined to score 27 points. Bridges had 14, Hart 13.
‘I don’t know what I’m feeling,’ Brunson said. ‘I’m in awe. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.’
Dylan Harper scored 25 for the Spurs, who got 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots from Victor Wembanyama.
The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road. It didn’t feel like the road, though – not with thousands of New York faithful having made the trip to Texas to see a moment 53 years in the making.
