On Monday night, Brooklyn felt like the basketball capital of the world. Knicks diehards crammed into The Commissioner, a bar on Fifth Ave near 5th Street in Park Slope, as New York clinched a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since the ’90s. The Knicks swept Cleveland, and when the final buzzer sounded around 10:45 p.m., the crowd inside erupted, beer spraying and bartenders pounding the bar in disbelief.

Maggie Cohen, 38, who lives a block over on Garfield Place, called it ‘the best night I’ve had in this city since I moved here.’ She watched the game perched on a barstool, clutching her father’s vintage Allan Houston jersey. ‘This is what we’ve been waiting for — decades.’

Within minutes, fans spilled outside, draping blue-and-orange flags over bike racks and chanting ‘Let’s Go Knicks!’ as car horns blared down Fifth. NYPD’s 78th Precinct had officers posted at intersections by midnight, but the mood stayed jubilant. By 12:30 a.m., a spontaneous parade of scooters and cyclists rolled past Union Street, trailing confetti and shouts that echoed all the way to Flatbush.

Inside The Commissioner, owner Ray Morales said they blew through their beer kegs before the third quarter ended. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this — not even during the Nets runs,’ Morales said, grinning as he swept up a pile of trampled coasters. He’s already planning watch parties for Game 1, set for later this week.

With the city’s longest championship drought on the line and the weather finally breaking warm, expect more impromptu street parties across Brooklyn if the Knicks can bring it home in June.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Knicks fans celebrate their NBA Finals return in Park Slope?

Knicks fans celebrated at The Commissioner, a bar on Fifth Ave near 5th Street in Park Slope.

How did fans react when the Knicks clinched a spot in the NBA Finals?

Fans erupted inside the bar, spraying beer, pounding the bar, and later spilled outside chanting and celebrating in the streets.

When was the last time the Knicks reached the NBA Finals before this?

The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in the 1990s.

Did the NYPD respond to the celebrations in Park Slope?

Yes, officers from the 78th Precinct were posted at intersections by midnight, but the mood remained jubilant.

What did The Commissioner bar owner say about the celebration?

Owner Ray Morales said they ran out of beer kegs before the third quarter ended and that he had never seen anything like it, not even during the Nets runs.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.