New York Knicks fans flooded the streets of Midtown Manhattan late on Saturday to celebrate the team's historic NBA Finals victory, but jubilant scenes quickly descended into chaos as a World Cup shuttle bus was set alight and a teenager was shot during the celebrations.
The Knicks clinched their first NBA championship since 1973, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the fifth game of the best-of-seven series. The victory marked the franchise's third title and ended a 53-year championship drought, prompting thousands of supporters to pour into the streets chanting "Knicks in five!"
Celebrations centred around Times Square and the area surrounding Madison Square Garden, with fans setting off fireworks, igniting smoke grenades and climbing scaffolding, traffic lights and vehicles as the night wore on.
At around 2am, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot in Times Square, according to New York police. Three persons of interest were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Chaos intensified when hundreds of revellers swarmed a convoy of shuttle buses that had been transporting spectators from the first World Cup match held in the New York area, a draw between Brazil and Morocco. Some climbed onto the roofs of the buses, while others smashed windows and entered the vehicles.
One of the yellow school buses hired by city authorities to transport football fans was set on fire, while several others were vandalised or severely damaged. Authorities later confirmed that at least five buses were either torched or destroyed during the unrest.
Witnesses described scenes of mayhem as crowds mixed celebrations of the Knicks' victory with World Cup festivities.
"They are expressing their happiness, a little bit violently, but it is what it is," said Youssef Sabbr, a Canadian of Moroccan descent who had just exited one of the shuttle buses before it was surrounded by crowds.
Police initially monitored the celebrations from a distance before moving in with riot gear and mounted units to disperse crowds and reopen blocked streets. Officers on horseback were seen pushing back revellers near Madison Square Garden as the situation spiralled overnight.
For many long-time fans, however, the chaos did little to overshadow the significance of the Knicks' victory.
"Oh my God. It's like New Year's Eve times twenty," said New York real estate agent Carol Marino after watching the game at a local bar.
Dean and Christina Smiros, lifelong Knicks supporters, said the championship was something they had waited their entire lives to witness.
"They have not won since before we were born," Christina said.