New York Knicks fans had plenty to celebrate after their team escaped with a dramatic 105-104 win on Friday night, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
However, some postgame celebrations in Manhattan crossed the line, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also weighing in on the incident.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Addresses Chaos at Knicks Finals Watch Party
Thousands of Knicks fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden to watch the Spurs-Knicks matchup, with police estimating that about 6,500 attended the watch party outside the arena.
According to authorities, one individual jumped over a barrier into a restricted area and later allegedly struck an officer in the face multiple times when the officer attempted to remove her. The officer suffered injuries that required stitches and is currently recovering.
Mamdani addressed the incident in a strongly worded post on X.
“The assault on an NYPD officer outside Madison Square Garden last night was unacceptable,” Mamdani wrote. “New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police officers.”
The assault on an NYPD officer outside Madison Square Garden last night was unacceptable.
New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) June 6, 2026
“Thank you to the officers who worked to keep fans safe throughout the night, and we wish the injured officer a speedy recovery. The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers celebrated responsibly, and I urge everyone to continue doing so as the Finals return to New York.”
The woman accused of assaulting the officer was identified as 29-year-old Karely Reyes. Authorities said she also bit a second officer who intervened during the incident.
Police Benevolent Association President Pat Hendry said in a statement that a celebration following a win should never result in a police officer being injured.
He also described the incident as completely “unacceptable” and said such behavior could not be tolerated, stating that the association would be present in court to ensure Reyes was held accountable for her actions.
Per the New York Daily News, Reyes was arraigned on Saturday, released without bail, and is scheduled to return to court in July.
Besides this single incident, authorities reported that several people blocked traffic along Seventh and Eighth avenues between West 31st and West 35th streets.
Several people were seen climbing onto food vendor carts, light poles, and subway entrances as police worked to disperse the crowds. One thousand NYPD officers were deployed for the watch party.
Some individuals were also taken into custody for allegedly selling counterfeit merchandise, and one of them was additionally charged with possessing a loaded firearm.
In total, 26 people were taken into custody, with 17 arrested and charged, while nine others were issued court summonses for disorderly conduct and released.
Game 3 is set for Monday at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks on a 13-game playoff winning streak. While New York will have an opportunity to take a 3-0 lead, the behavior of celebrating fans is likely to remain under scrutiny.
