Hour 1 - A Fall Zebra

June 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The NBA’s last-two-minute report for Game 4 of the Finals confirmed what Spurs fans already suspected: the referees blew a call on Stefan Castle with just over a minute left. Castle was called for stepping out of bounds when he hadn’t, and the league admitted Josh Hart should have been whistled for a foul instead. At the time, the Knicks led by one and were out of team fouls, meaning Castle—who was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line that night—would have shot two free throws and likely put San Antonio up by one. But Ben Maller isn’t buying the idea that this single mistake cost the Spurs the game. He calls the last-two-minute report “a distraction from the real story,” which he says is the greatest choke job in NBA Finals history.

The real collapse

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What you'll learn

1 (07:12) **NBA Finals: Did the Refs Cost the Spurs Game 4?** - Ben breaks down the NBA's last two-minute report for Game 4, which found a missed foul on Josh Hart that should have sent Stefan Castle to the line with a chance to take the lead.
2 (10:25) **Ben's Take: The Spurs Choked, Don't Blame the Refs** - Ben argues the missed call is a distraction from the real story: San Antonio's historic collapse.
3 (12:34) **Knicks Fans Invading San Antonio for Game 5** - Nearly half the tickets for Game 5 in San Antonio have been bought by Knicks fans, potentially turning the arena into a hostile environment for the Spurs.
4 (15:00) **Spurs' Collapse Pattern: A Master Class in Choking** - Ben details the Spurs' three losses, all of which were winnable games they found new ways to lose.
5 (17:05) **NFL: Will Stefon Diggs Return to the Bills?** - Ben addresses online buzz about a potential reunion between Stefon Diggs and Buffalo.
6 (20:35) **USA Soccer Coach's No-Nonsense Pep Talk** - Ben discusses U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino's approach to motivating the team for their World Cup opener.
7 (38:46) **Who Am I Game: Spike Owen** - Ben plays the "Who Am I" game, asking listeners to identify the only Mariners player besides Julio Rodriguez to hit a lead-off home run at a younger age than Cole Young.

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Show Notes

Ben Maller talks about the idea that the NBA refs cost the Spurs the victory because of the wrong call on Stephon Castle, if the Knicks fans take over of the Spurs home arena will give New York an edge, the chances that Stefon Diggs returns to Buffalo, and much more!

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