New York police detain 56 over unrest during NBA Finals

New York City police detained 56 individuals amid disturbances that erupted during the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. The unrest occurred outside Madison Square Garden, where thousands of fans had gathered to watch Game 4 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

Ten NYPD officers sustained injuries during the disorder, with one officer being struck in the head by a glass bottle. Authorities have filed charges including assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct, and possession of a knife. Social media videos depicted hostile fans jeering the Spurs players as they returned to their hotel. Police estimated that approximately 10,000 fans were present around the venue, with some climbing onto moving vehicles, attempting to flip a taxi, and setting off fireworks.

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Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behaviour last night, both during and after the game.

This incident follows a similar, though less severe, event during Game 3, which U.S. President Donald Trump attended. On that occasion, police detained 21 people, and four officers were injured. The Spurs' Victor Wembanyama had previously condemned the targeting of Spurs fans as "unacceptable."

In an effort to prevent further unrest, authorities had banned planned public screenings near Madison Square Garden for Game 4, a departure from their approach during the first two playoff games. The Knicks currently hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

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unacceptable.