NEW YORK -- An NBA Finals viewing party in Manhattan on Monday turned "incredibly reckless," New York City police claimed, as some dejected Knicks fans scaled light poles, pelted officers with objects and ripped signs out of the street following the team's Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The rowdy scenes came a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, where elated fans have typically gathered during the team's historic playoff run. But the area outside the arena was largely off-limits to the public Monday as a result of President Donald Trump's attendance at the game.
Instead, roughly 7,000 people gathered at nearby Bryant Park for a city-hosted watch party.
While the party was largely calm, some fans blocked traffic and refused to disperse, and others threw glass objects or brawled in the street, according to police and video of the altercations.
In total, eight people were arrested -- two for assaulting a police officer -- and 13 others were issued criminal court summonses. Police said that five officers were injured. The New York Police Department did not immediately provide information about the nature of their injuries or details on the people arrested.