Multiple Knicks fans arrested celebrating teams NBA Finals Game 1 win during first MSG watch party allowed in weeks

Multiple Knicks fans were arrested Wednesday night while celebrating their hometown team’s thrilling NBA Finals Game 1 victory at Madison Square Garden’s first outdoor watch party permitted by the city in weeks.The celebratory sea of Knicks fanatics packed the streets surrounding the Garden, where they cheered the team’s 105-95 win against the San Antonio Spurs as hundreds of cops looked on — and a waving Mayor Zohran Mamdani was driven by in a black SUV, according to social media clips.The outdoor event had been scrapped for weeks after the city pulled permits over concerns of unruly fan antics.Wednesday night’s return outside the Garden acted as a sort of behavior test for blue and orange diehards since the city is only issuing permits for the watch parties on a game-by-game basis.The crowds — while rambunctious and loud — were largely peaceful.

The Knicks faithful waved flags, chanted, jumped up and down, crowd surfed and sat atop each other’s shoulders behind barricades set up by the NYPD.A handful of rabble-rousers scampered up street poles and climbed atop vehicles and made up most of the arrests.

At least four such fans were arrested, according to law enforcement sources.The crowd chanted “let them go, let them go” as the few out-of-hand among them were handcuffed, The Post observed.The NYPD was unable to confirm the exact number of arrests or charges early Thursday.The city’s Street Activity Permit Office initially pulled the plug on the raucous watch parties ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs.

the Cleveland Cavaliers, when the NYPD said out-of-control fans were causing too much chaos in Midtown.But the outdoor celebration was revived after the mayor’s office and MSG discussed hosting the event again ahead of Wednesday’s game, officials said, though the NYPD did not take part in the discussions.The city, however, will only be issuing permits on a game-by-game basis, a spokesperson said.Fans attending Wednesday ni...