The MSG Miracle! OG’s Tip, the Spurs' Collapse, and a Finals MVP Debate!

June 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

They were down 29 points in the second half of a game that would put them one win from their first title in 53 years. The crowd at Madison Square Garden had every reason to deflate. Instead, they started chanting "Let's go Knicks." And then, somehow, the New York Knicks did the impossible, erasing the largest deficit in NBA playoff history to win Game 4 of the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, 129-128. On this episode of The Zach Lowe Show, Lowe and SNY's Ian Begley break down every angle of the collapse, the comeback, and what it means for both franchises.

The Anatomy of a Collapse and a Miracle

The Spurs' first-half performance was a masterpiece. Victor Wembanyama was dominant, the role players were knocking down shots, and San Antonio built a lead that felt insurmountable. But the second half was a study in self-destruction. Lowe and Begley point to a series of horrific decisions by the Spurs, starting with their shot selection. "They just kept shooting threes," Begley recalls, sitting next to ESPN's Vince Goodwill and scratching his head. Lowe rewatched the second half and cataloged "seven or eight horrible quick threes" — contested step-backs with 12 seconds on the shot clock, pull-ups in transition with a 25-point lead. The logic was clear: with a huge cushion, the only way to lose is by piling up zeroes, and the Spurs kept taking the lowest-percentage shots.

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What you'll learn

1 (03:08) **Welcome & Setting the Stage** - Zach Lowe and Ian Begley (SNY) recap the Knicks' historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a win that puts them one victory away from their first title in 53 years.
2 (05:37) **Ian’s Lasting Memory: The Fans Never Left** - Begley describes the surreal post-game atmosphere where security guards let fans linger on the court for nearly 30 minutes, a rare moment of communal joy.
3 (08:16) **The Day’s Chaos: Dolan, Foul Trouble, and a Near-Disaster** - The hosts discuss the pre-game drama (James Dolan’s radio comments) and early-game disaster (KAT picking up two shaky fouls in 65 seconds).
4 (14:11) **The Spurs’ Collapse: Bad Shots and a Suspension Scare** - Analysis of San Antonio’s second-half meltdown, including a litany of poor three-point attempts and Wembanyama’s diminished aggression.
5 (18:34) **Historical Parallels & The “Bonus” Mistake** - The Spurs’ collapse is compared to the Celtics’ blown lead against the Knicks in last year’s playoffs.
6 (20:22) **Jose Alvarado: The Unsung Hero** - The hosts break down Mike Brown’s decision to insert Alvarado into the rotation and how his IQ and cutting dismantled the Spurs’ zone defense.
7 (25:43) **“Hit Singles”: The Knicks’ Mindset & Crowd Energy** - Jalen Brunson’s halftime message (“hit singles”) is contrasted with OG’s “grand slam” performance.

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Show Notes

Zach is joined by Ian Begley to try to make sense of the Knicks' miraculous Game 4 comeback. They discuss OG Anunoby’s tip-in, debate who the MVP should be, and question what the Spurs need to do moving forward. Finally, they try to contextualize the run that this Knicks team is on.

(0:00) Welcome to The Zach Lowe Show!

(1:57) Ian Begley joins the show!

(4:36) What will you remember most from this game?

(10:52) On Josh Hart's end of the gameplay

(25:51) It will be difficult for the Spurs to recover from this

(33:12) Should Anunoby be the Finals MVP if the Knicks win?

(47:37) Is Zach responsible for the Knicks' success?

(49:42) What has led to Jalen Brunson’s success?

(52:59) Do the Spurs need to move on from De’Aaron Fox?

(1:01:46) Is there a historical comp for this Knicks team?

Host: Zach Lowe

Guest: Ian Begley

Producers: Mike Wargon, Jonathan Frias, and Billy Gil

Social: Keith Fujimoto and Michael Szokoli

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