The New York Knicks took a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. The Knicks seemed down and out when they trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter, but mounted a stunning comeback to clinch victory in Game 1.
Emotions would have been running high after a game like that, and it seems some fans completely lost their cool. A clip has gone viral online of a wild fight breaking out outside MSG.
Cavs and Knicks fans FIGHTING after the game 😳 pic.twitter.com/gPWQCb6GEd
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 20, 2026
Knicks fans are among the most passionate in the NBA, but they have earned a reputation by now of being an unruly bunch. Some were up to no good after Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals as well. A 76ers fan was simply minding his own business when he got harassed.
A fan walking around in a Sixers jersey got HARASSED by Knicks fans after Game 1 😳 pic.twitter.com/6lA9VEPjp5
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 5, 2026
If you thought this was bad, an even worse scene unfolded a year ago. Knicks fans threw garbage bags at an Indiana Pacers fan wearing a Tyrese Haliburton jersey after their Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics in the Conference Semifinals in 2025.
Trashy ass fanbase pic.twitter.com/bguL2psrPH
— Yeah Yeah! (@YeahYeahOkBro) May 17, 2025
Now, this individual was allegedly trying to wind up Knicks fans, but there is no justification for hurling those bags at him. It was a troubling scene. Haliburton ended up inviting him to Game 4 of the Conference Finals against the Knicks last year. The Pacers won 130-121 that night and eventually advanced to the NBA Finals in six games.
The Knicks are hoping they don’t fall in the Conference Finals again in 2026. It looked like they were going to go down 1-0, just like last year, but snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was Jalen Brunson who powered the comeback with 15 points in the fourth quarter. Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges had six points each, with the former also hitting the dagger three-pointer in overtime.
While some Knicks fans were busy fighting after this game, you also had one sizeable group break into “F*** Trae Young” chants.
F*ck Trae Young chants have broken out outside MSG after Knicks Game 1 win 😂 pic.twitter.com/LI3RgWsyDL
— TickPick (@TickPick) May 20, 2026
They just can’t get over it. Young had become the villain in New York by knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs back in 2021 with the Atlanta Hawks. He’s not even with the Hawks anymore and barely played this season, but that isn’t stopping the fans from going at him. It’s becoming tradition at this point.
As for this series, you do fear how a loss like this will impact the Cavaliers. They should be up 1-0, but they just threw the game away.
Game 2 will tip off at Madison Square Garden on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The Knicks go into it with all the momentum, and they’d be in the driver’s seat if they take a 2-0 lead.
