Police are searching for a group of people accused of attacking a San Antonio Spurs fan and stealing his jersey in Midtown after Monday night's NBA Finals game.
The NYPD said a 39-year-old man was walking back to his hotel shortly after midnight on Tuesday when he was approached by several people outside 306 West 47th Street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues.
The group allegedly surrounded the man, punched and kicked him, then forcibly removed a black San Antonio Spurs No. 21 jersey he was wearing, according to police.
The victim suffered cuts to his face and bruising and was taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital in stable condition, the NYPD said.
The incident occurred while thousands of Knicks fans swarmed Midtown after the team's 115-111 loss to San Antonio in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Police arrested 21 people overnight in separate incidents around Midtown and near Bryant Park, authorities said.
Officials said the city was preparing for a ticketed Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, with increased security around the arena. If the series makes it beyond five games, the Knicks will return to the Garden for Game 6 on Tuesday, June 16.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
