Dozens of enraged Knicks fans surrounded a Spurs fan on the streets and tore apart his Victor Wembanyama jersey after Monday night’s squeaker loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals — as cops arrested nearly two-dozen rabid supporters who clashed with officers outside Bryant Park’s watch party.
Police descended on the Bryant Park around tip-off time in an effort to control the crowd of over 7,000 who gathered for the Knicks watch party, arresting 21 people for offenses including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Five NYPD officers were injured in the fracas.
Eight fans were taken into custody and charged and 13 were released with criminal court summonses.
Cops said a large crowd of people “took over” 42nd Street and refused to disperse, blocking vehicle traffic and causing a significant backup in the area.
The crowd engaged in “incredibly reckless behavior” including violent fights that resulted in multiple injuries.
Some threw glass objects at each other and police officers, and ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground to throw them.
Rowdy fans climbed scaffolding, light poles, police cars and NYPD trucks, causing “significant damage,” police said.
Meanwhile, wild footage shows crowds of Knicks fanatics screaming and ferociously tearing apart jerseys with the 7-foot-4 Spurs star’s name on the back.
Another clip posted by popular YouTuber Kanel Joseph on the Kick streaming site shows a mob rip a jersey from a Spurs fan’s back.
“Take it off! Take it off!” members of the crowd can be heard yelling as the jersey was torn into rags while onlookers cheered.
In another similar scene, a large group of men yanked a jersey from the back of a fan who was helpless to fight back against the horde.
Last night’s regularly scheduled watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled on the day of the game due to heightened security concerns after it was announced President Trump would be attending.
Tip off for Game 4 at the Garden is set for 8:30 Wednesday night in the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
