Crowds gather after dramatic win

New York’s long wait for another NBA title moved a step closer to ending after the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

According to WP SportoweFakty’s live coverage of the game, the victory gave the Knicks a 3-1 lead in the series and put them within one win of their first championship since 1973.

But the celebrations outside Madison Square Garden quickly turned disorderly. Thousands of fans gathered in Manhattan after the final buzzer, with police estimating that more than 10,000 people filled streets around the arena.

Arrests after night of disorder

The scenes that followed were described by Gothamist, which reported that New York police arrested 56 people after crowds became unruly in Midtown.

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Fifteen of those arrested were jailed, while 41 others were released with summonses to appear in court.

Police said the offences included climbing vehicles, scaffolding, traffic lights and buildings, attempting to overturn a taxi, setting off flares and fireworks, damaging property and assaulting an officer. Some arrests were also linked to possession of a knife or counterfeit goods.

Ten police officers were injured during the disturbances. One officer was reportedly struck in the head with a glass bottle.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama was also caught up in the hostile atmosphere. As he arrived back at his hotel with security, an egg was thrown in his direction, adding to an already tense night in the city.

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Knicks stand on the brink

Inside the arena, the Knicks had taken a major step towards a historic championship. The franchise won its two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, but has not lifted the trophy since.

Its last appearance in the Finals came in 1999, when New York lost 4-1 to the Spurs. This time, the balance of the series is firmly in the Knicks’ favour.

San Antonio had chances to take control of Game 4, but New York found a way through in the closing stages. Wembanyama again led the Spurs, finishing with 34 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, but his performance was not enough to stop the Knicks from taking command of the series.

One win from history

The Knicks now lead the Finals 3-1 and need one more victory to complete one of the most significant seasons in the club’s modern history.

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Game 5 is scheduled to be played in San Antonio on Saturday, where the Spurs will try to keep the series alive.

For New York, the task is simple. One more win would bring the city its first Knicks championship in more than half a century. But after the scenes in Manhattan, any further celebrations are likely to come under far closer police scrutiny.

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