NYPD Shuts Down Knicks' Game 4 MSG Watch Party, Cites 'Problematic Issues' and Arrests

The New York Police Department will no longer support New York Knicks playoff watch parties held outside of Madison Square Garden, a spokesperson told Joe Marino, Katherine Donlevy and Alex Oliveira of the New York Post.

"Games 1 and 2 have seen progressively more problematic issues at the watch parties outside MSG — six arrests last night alone — so the NYPD will not support more watch parties outside the stadium," the spokesperson said, per Marino, Donlevy and Oliveira.

"But we will continue to review requests to support parties at alternate sites, like Summer Stage."

SummerStage is a venue in Central Park that has been holding Knicks watch parties throughout the playoff run.

Games have also been broadcast on a screen outside Madison Square Garden. The watch party area around the screen has been divided by temporary barriers and monitored by police.

That hasn't stopped chaotic scenes from unfolding, like when former Knicks guard JR Smith was knocked to the ground outside MSG following Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks are taking a 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals series lead into Saturday night's Game 3 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Madison Square Garden is hosting a Game 3 watch party inside the stadium with $10 tickets currently available on the venue's website. Proceeds will be donated to MSG's Garden of Dreams Foundation.

The Knicks are set to play again in Cleveland when Game 4 tips off Monday evening. The series will return to Madison Square Garden next Wednesday if Game 5 is necessary.