More than 30 buildings and establishments were damaged and at least 75 people were arrested in Los Angeles after the Lakers won the NBA championship on Sunday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Eight officers were also injured in a celebration that, according to several eyewitnesses, escalated into fights among the fans and rioting.
“Unruly individuals mixed within the crowd began throwing glass bottles, rocks, and other projectiles at officers,” the LAPD said in a statement. “That is when an unlawful assembly was declared, and only a limited number of people complied and began to disperse. A larger portion of the group broke off and began vandalizing businesses while continuing to engage in violent behavior, some aimed at responding officers.”
The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games to capture their 17th championship overall, and first with LeBron James on the team. It was the fourth title for James overall, who has appeared in nine of the previous 10 Finals (and 10 overall). He was been named Finals MVP on four occasions, trailing only Michael Jordan‘s six.
Much of the damage occurred near the Staples Center, where the Lakers play home games. All NBA games following the league’s restart in late July were held on the Disney campus in Orlando.
