Away from the pitch, the NBA Finals commanded attention in the United States. The New York Knicks traveled to San Antonio for Game 5 holding a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Spurs, with a chance to clinch the franchise’s first championship since 1973.
But the aftermath of Game 4 — an astonishing comeback from 29 points down — generated nearly as many headlines as the basketball itself. New York police reported that 56 people were taken into custody following post-game unrest around Madison Square Garden, where an estimated 10,000 fans gathered after the final buzzer. Ten officers were injured, including one struck in the head by a glass bottle. Charges ranged from disorderly conduct to assaulting an officer and weapons possession.
