A teenager was beaten into a coma by a brute who bellowed “Spurs in 7” during a livestream in Midtown as Game 4 of the NBA Finals neared its triumphant end for the Knicks, police and sources say.
The 17-year-old victim was part of a group that gathered on West 35th Street near Eighth Avenue — a short walk from Madison Square Garden — around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday when a rioter wearing a black-and-white striped shirt declared, “The Spurs are up next. We’re winning. Spurs in 7,” law enforcement sources said.
That prompted a Knicks fan in the crowd to snap back, “F–k the Spurs. Suck my d–k,” the sources said.
Although the teenage victim wasn’t the one who made that comment, he was part of the Knicks fan’s group — and a violent brawl broke out in which he quickly became the target, the sources said.
He was pummeled by a brutal crowd before the first Spurs fan picked him up and threw him to the ground, the sources said.
The entire violent ordeal was streamed on the PRISM app.
“Wait, wait, chill chill,” a handful of onlookers said as the violence flared, in front of a food cart.
“I should have killed this na, right? I should have ruined this na,” the initial aggressor was heard saying.
Dozens of bystanders filmed and did nothing, or were too engrossed in the final tense moments of the game to get involved.
But others seemed distracted by the brawl and missed the Knicks’ historic 107-106 comeback victory until a roar rang out in the crowd.
“What’s the score? What happened?” you heard people say.
The badly injured teenager, who sources say is from Connecticut, suffered a seizure and fell into a coma, police said.
He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he eventually emerged from the coma and was listed in critical but stable condition, police said.
Police were still searching for the attacker dressed in black and white and released his photo.
Madison Square Garden canceled a planned Knicks viewing party outside the arena hours before Game 4 — as owner James Dolan said neither Mayor Zohran Mamdani nor NYPD Commissioner Tisch was experienced enough to handle the big event.
The celebrations have been loud during the Knicks’ magical playoff run, but at times some fans have become unruly and even violent, leading to arrests.
After Game 3, a rowdy crowd attacked a Spurs fan and ripped off his jersey in a viral attack that was caught on camera, police said.
No one was arrested in this brutal robbery.
Post-Game 4 scandals included a wild crowd — with at least one in blue and orange Knicks merchandise — launching chairs at a Midtown Five Guys employee, leaving him bloodied.
