One Spurs fan found himself caught in the middle of a scary situation on Monday night following the 115-111 Knicks’ loss to the Spurs during Game 3 of the NBA finals. Several videos that have been posted on various websites online have captured the fan being harassed by a number of irate Knicks fans.
The confrontation was only one piece of a much bigger mess across Midtown Manhattan. Fights broke out near Bryant Park, property was damaged, police moved in with pepper spray, and more than 20 people were taken into custody as thousands of fans poured into the streets after the Knicks’ first loss of the series.
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Spurs Fan Gets Swarmed As Knicks Frustration Spills Into The Streets
May 19, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks fans react during the fourth quarter of game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The most-watched video featured a Spurs fan being chased and threatened by a group after the match ended. The fan can be seen surrounded by others after tensions rose. It was soon widely circulated on the internet as a lot of people criticized the extent to which the situation got out of hand despite it all being just a game of basketball.
That wasn’t all that happened between the Spurs fans. There was another widely shared video showing a Victor Wembanyama jersey being destroyed by a group of people. One could hear the screams coming from fans who were tearing the jersey to shreds. This was a clear picture that marked yet another ugly night in the city.
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Hours earlier, excitement around the Finals had been everywhere. The Knicks were playing an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden for the first time in many years. Lots of fans filled up watch parties. Gathering spots all over Manhattan hoping to see New York get closer to winning a championship.
The Spurs ended up winning 115-111. What happened after the game got as much attention as the game itself. Near Bryant Park, where about 7,000 people gathered for a watch party the mood changed fast once the game ended. Big crowds ran onto the streets and some fights started.
Videos from the area showed people running through traffic climbing on cars and gathering in groups on 42nd Street. One video showed a man swinging a metal bus stop sign after someone ripped it out of the ground.
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Another video showed people standing on top of cars while others crowded around police cars. Police eventually moved in to stop the disturbances. Video from the scene seemed to show police using pepper spray to push crowds back and regain control.
According to the NYPD 21 people were taken into custody during the chaos. Eight were arrested on charges like assault, menacing and resisting arrest. Having a weapon. Thirteen others got summonses to appear in court.
Police also said five officers got hurt during the response. Officials later said the violence was wrong while videos from the streets kept getting lots of views
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For fans the biggest surprise was not that people got emotional after a tough Finals loss but how fast a night that started with excitement about a championship turned into hours of fights, arrests and chaos all over Manhattan.