New York exploded into celebration Monday night after the New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly three decades, sending fans flooding into the streets around Madison Square Garden and across the city.
According to the New York Post, the Knicks completed a dominant series sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a blowout victory that immediately triggered chants, crowd surfing, and massive parties outside the arena known as “The Mecca.”
For many fans, the moment felt long overdue.
“The city has been waiting for it since 1999,” Kevin Calle, a 30-year-old New Jersey resident, told The Post during a watch party outside Radio City Music Hall.
“We’ve been through so many losses, and the fans have always stuck close. It’s nice to finally be on the winning side,” he said.
“It’s our time. The team is made up of a lot of underdogs. Let’s hope Manhattan makes it out alive tonight!”
While crowds gathered calmly at Radio City, the atmosphere outside Madison Square Garden quickly turned chaotic after the final buzzer.
Thousands packed the surrounding streets as fans climbed light poles, waved brooms to symbolize the series sweep, and chanted loudly into the night.
Within an hour of the Knicks’ 37-point win, some fans were shouting, “f***k the World Cup!” in reference to upcoming matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium later this summer.
For younger fans, Monday marked the first time they had ever seen the Knicks reach the Finals.
The franchise’s previous appearance came in 1999, when New York lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
Knicks fans who traveled to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 also celebrated outside Rocket Arena after the series-clinching victory.
“It’s incredible. I’m on top of the world. There is no stopping the Knicks,” Long Island resident Tara Hochberg told The Post.
Fans also repeatedly chanted “We want Wemby,” referencing Spurs star Victor Wembanyama as New York awaited its Finals opponent.
Even New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined in online after the victory.
“NYC Sanitation, I’d like to report a sweep,” the mayor posted on X.
