NEW YORK — An NYPD police officer was beaten and 26 people were arrested outside Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan Friday night as thousands of fans celebrated the Knicks’ Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, officials said.

The brazen attack has raised questions about celebrations next week outside The Garden as the NBA Finals continue. City Hall and the NYPD were making game-day decisions on the outdoor party and said last week permits would be issued on a case-by-case basis.

The female officer was repeatedly punched as she tried to stop a female fan who refused to leave after the Knicks’ 105-104 win jumped a barricade and ran into a frozen area, officials said.

“The situation was pretty chaotic,” said one NYPD source with knowledge of the incident, adding that the attacked officer was “punched badly” in the face, drawing blood.

The fan, 29-year-old Karely Reyes, was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration.

Cops said the attack left the 23-year-old officer needing medical attention.

“The assault on an NYPD officer outside Madison Square Garden last night was unacceptable,” Mayor Mamdani said. “New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police officers. Thank you to the officers who worked to keep fans safe throughout the night, and we wish the injured officer a speedy recovery. The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers celebrated responsibly, and I urge everyone to continue doing so as the Finals return to New York.”

“A victory celebration shouldn’t end with blood pouring down a police officer’s face,” Police Benevolent Association President Pat Hendry said in a statement Saturday. “Our sister was just doing her job, trying to keep everyone safe in the pandemonium following the Knicks Game 2 win, when an individual jumped over a barrier and punched her in the face hard enough to leave a bloody gash.”

Reyes, Hendry said, “bit another cop after being placed under arrest.”

“This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” he said. “We will be in court to make sure this individual faces the consequences she deserves.”

An estimated 6,500 people showed up to attend the watch party outside MSG.

During the night, cops apprehended 26 people in total for a variety of offenses, from assault to selling counterfeit merchandise to climbing on top of light poles, food vendor carts and subway entrances. Cops found a loaded firearm on one of the people selling knock-off goods, a police spokeswoman said.

Out of the 26 arrested, 17 were criminally charged. Nine were released with criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct. One man was arrested for climbing a light pole before the game started, cops said.

Nine of the 17 people charged were given desk appearance tickets and sent home, police said.

There were no arrests at a separate Knicks watch party at the Summer Stage venue in Central Park, officials said.

The NYPD does not issue watch party permits. The Mayor’s Office of Special Events hands out the permits after consulting with the NYPD regarding the department’s security concerns.

It was not immediately clear if Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch would warn City Hall against issuing future watch party permits at MSG in light of Friday’s attack.

City Hall officials said Saturday that the Knicks watch parties would continue, but wouldn’t say if they would be at MSG.

“The permitting plans for future Knicks game watch parties will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis, in consultation with the NYPD,” Mamdani’s Deputy Press Secretary Sam Raskin said.

“As the mayor has said, when it comes to Knicks watch parties, it is not a matter of if they will happen, but where,” Raskin said.

The mayor announced Friday’s MSG watch party that morning. A similar event outside MSG after Game 1 on Wednesday ended in eight arrests and thousands of dollars in damage as some revelers jumped on a passing ambulance.

An NYPD chief was punched in the face at the Game 1 outdoor watch party and a woman also accidentally set her hair on fire during the celebration, cops said. A man quickly rushed up and sprayed her head with a fire extinguisher, putting out the flames.

It’s the first time the Knicks have been in the Finals in 27 years. More than a week ago, the NYPD recommended against the watch parties, after ones during the NBA Eastern Conference finals drew huge crowds and were marred by multiple arrests.

Pens were put up for fans on W. 33rd St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves. on Friday. Besides Central Park, another watch party was held inside Madison Square Garden.

Tisch said Friday that the NYPD would deploy 1,000 cops to secure the watch party area around MSG and ensure rabid fans didn’t get carried away during the game.

“Let me be very clear. We will have no tolerance for violence,” Tisch said, “particularly violence against police officers, destruction of property, climbing on light poles or structures, blocking emergency vehicles, or any other chaotic behavior that puts people at risk.”

“We want people to have fun,” Tisch said. “We want people to celebrate the Knicks, but do not be the one who ruins it for everyone else. Remember, cops are Knicks fans, too. They understand the energy. They understand the pride. They understand the excitement. And their goal is to help people watch and celebrate safely.”

Damaging property “or acting like the rules do not apply to them” is a “fast way to end the night badly,” Tisch warned.

During an interview on 1010 WINS, Mamdani, a die-hard Knicks fan, said City Hall authorized the watch party so that everyone can take part in the basketball excitement.

“This is part of the city wanting to be ready to ensure every New Yorker can enjoy themselves,” Mamdani said while warning rabid Knick fans to behave out there.

“As we want New Yorkers to be able to enjoy themselves, I would like to remind New Yorkers to not jump on any emergency vehicles or ambulances, or to block their passage,” Mamdani said.

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