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Wednesday, 21 July 2021

65,000 Bucks fans flood downtown Milwaukee to celebrate their first NBA title in 50 years - despite COVID cases surging 160% in two weeks in Wisconsin

 Milwaukee descended into chaos Tuesday night as gunshots rang out in the streets and two cops were injured during celebrations marking the Bucks' first NBA title in 50 years.

Bucks' fans were sent fleeing from North Water Street in the Deer District, downtown Milwaukee, just before 12:45am Wednesday morning when shots were fired, reported WISN

Police rushed to the scene and put up crime tape around the area. It is not clear if anyone was injured.  


More than 65,000 Bucks fans packed in to the streets of the city Tuesday night, climbing up light poles and sending metal police barricades crowd surfing over the thousands of people amid the celebrations.

The huge street party comes despite the seven-day rolling average COVID-19 cases surging 160 percent in Wisconsin in the last two weeks alone and the Delta variant continuing to spread across the US. 

Milwaukee descended into chaos Tuesday night as gunshots rung out in the streets and two cops were injured during celebrations marking the Bucks' first NBA title in 50 years. Pictured the crowds gathered in the streets

Milwaukee descended into chaos Tuesday night as gunshots rung out in the streets and two cops were injured during celebrations marking the Bucks' first NBA title in 50 years. Pictured the crowds gathered in the streets

While fewer than 50 percent of Milwaukee residents have been vaccinated, there was barely a mask in sight as thousands descended on the city Tuesday night

While fewer than 50 percent of Milwaukee residents have been vaccinated, there was barely a mask in sight as thousands descended on the city Tuesday night

Fans celebrate as the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns in Game Six of the NBA Finals to win the championship

Fans celebrate as the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns in Game Six of the NBA Finals to win the championship


While fewer than 50 percent of Milwaukee residents have been vaccinated, there was barely a mask in sight as thousands descended on the city Tuesday night.

Fans packed in to the downtown area crowd surfing and chanting 'Bucks in 6! Bucks in 6!'.  

Two cops were injured as the celebrations continued into the night.

It was not clear how serious the injuries were or how they were caused but more officers were called to the area around North 6th Street and West Highland Avenue, the outlet reported.   


A total of 150 National Guard troops had been drafted in ahead of the game to help local law enforcement while some people traveled from as far as Texas in the hope of being part of the historic win.

Earlier in the night, when the Bucks took home the trophy, several fans jumped into the Milwaukee River to celebrate the win.

The Bucks had announced Monday afternoon the Deer District space would be expanded to welcome more fans to watch the NBS Finals on several large outdoor screens.

Fans celebrate outside Fiserv Forum as the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns

Fans celebrate outside Fiserv Forum as the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns

Fans packed in to the downtown area crowd surfing and chanting 'Bucks in 6! Bucks in 6!'

Fans packed in to the downtown area crowd surfing and chanting 'Bucks in 6! Bucks in 6!'

Thousands of fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals

Thousands of fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals

Thousands are packed in with barely a mask in sight despite Milwaukee having a low COVID-19 vaccination rate and cases rising

Thousands are packed in with barely a mask in sight despite Milwaukee having a low COVID-19 vaccination rate and cases rising

The Bucks had announced Monday afternoon the Deer District space would be expanded to welcome more fans to watch the NBS Finals on several large outdoor screens

The Bucks had announced Monday afternoon the Deer District space would be expanded to welcome more fans to watch the NBS Finals on several large outdoor screens 

As night fell the party continued with thousands of maskless partygoers packed in celebrating

As night fell the party continued with thousands of maskless partygoers packed in celebrating

'We have the best problem we've ever had – we've got to expand the footprint,' Bucks President Peter Feigin said. 

'We'll move the televisions around. We're learning about the space and how to accommodate more people.' 

This came after the Deer District reached capacity of 25,500 fans for Saturday night's game.

One fan Dan Dent told NBC15 he didn't want to miss out on Tuesday's game which marked the first game the Bucks played for the NBA Championship title since 1971.

'This is a once in a lifetime event, obviously it's been 50 years since the Bucks have been here. I want to be a part of history,' said Dent. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory Tuesday night with 50 points in a 105-98 Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns. 

This made the Bucks the fifth team to win the NBA Finals after trailing 2-0.  

Antetokounmpo was also awarded the NBA Finals MVP trophy after he scored 14 rebounds and five blocked shots to win the series 4-2.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory Tuesday night with 50 points in a 105-98 Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory Tuesday night with 50 points in a 105-98 Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns

Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award

Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award

More than 65,000 Bucks fans packed in to the streets of the city Tuesday night, climbing up light poles and sending metal police barricades crowd surfing over the thousands of people amid the celebrations

More than 65,000 Bucks fans packed in to the streets of the city Tuesday night, climbing up light poles and sending metal police barricades crowd surfing over the thousands of people amid the celebrations

The huge street party comes despite the seven-day rolling average COVID-19 cases surging 160 percent in Wisconsin in the last two weeks alone

The huge street party comes despite the seven-day rolling average COVID-19 cases surging 160 percent in Wisconsin in the last two weeks alone

It was the third game this series with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds for Antetokounmpo. 

City officials had expanded the outdoors watch area outside the Fiserv Forum arena to accommodate a crowd of 65,000 fans ahead of the game.

This cane on top of the more than 18,000 fans with tickets who packed inside the arena. 

The decision to welcome huge crowds to the area around the arena comes as the Delta variant is continuing to spread across the US. 

Milwaukee has one of the lowest vaccination rates nationwide, leading officials to launch a door-to-door vaccination initiative last week in a race against time against the more highly-contagious strain.  

Health commissioner Kirsten Johnson said less than 50 percent of residents are vaccinated with the Bucks and the city working together to raffle off tickets to the final to people getting vaccinated before the game.  

The Health Department's vaccination clinic for Game 6 ran from 6 pm to 7:45 pm  ahead of the game's 8pm start.  


Nationwide, the Delta variant now accounts for 83 percent of all new infections.

Just two weeks ago, this figure was around 50 percent of new cases.  

The spread of the strain has pushed cases up 224 percent nationwide in the last three weeks with a seven-day rolling average of 34,682 cases recorded Monday, up from the 10,678 average.

Nearly every state - aside from Montana and Iowa - and the District of Columbia have seen infections rise in the last week, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data. 

With cases rising once again, US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier on Monday renewed the order that declares the COVID-19 pandemic a 'public health emergency'.  

Deaths aren't rising at the same rate as cases though, thanks to the vaccine rollout. 

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