The New York Knicks' first NBA championship in over five decades sparked massive celebrations across the city, though the festivities turned destructive as crowds overwhelmed Times Square late into the night.
The team secured the title with a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in game 5 of the finals. Thousands of fans poured into streets to mark the historic win, the franchise's first since 1973.
The jubilation took a darker turn when hundreds of people converged on a convoy of roughly 15 shuttle buses in Times Square that had been stationed to transport fans from a World Cup soccer match held in the New York City area. At least one bus was set on fire during the melee. The extent of any injuries from the incident remained unclear.
The Knicks' run to the championship featured standout performances from their roster, with the team delivering under pressure in the decisive fifth game to end the longest title drought in franchise history.
Author James Rodriguez: "A championship drought that long builds enormous pressure, and when it finally breaks, the city loses its mind, for better and worse."
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