Sometimes a single word says everything. Following the New York Knicks' stunning 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, NBA analyst Tom Haberstroh didn't need a lengthy explanation.
He posted one word on social media:
"how"
That simple reaction quickly resonated with basketball fans everywhere because nobody seemed capable of explaining what had just happened at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks didn't just win Game 4. They somehow won a game they had virtually no business winning.
The numbers make the comeback even crazier
At one point during the second half, ESPN's win probability model gave the Spurs a 99.6% chance of victory.
Not 90%.
Not 95%.
Not even 99%.
The model believed San Antonio would win the game 996 times out of 1,000.
how pic.twitter.com/tKjG6AUzJJ
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 11, 2026
The graph tells the story. For most of the night, the Spurs' win probability hovered near certainty as Victor Wembanyama and company dominated the Knicks on both ends of the floor. San Antonio led by 29 points after building a massive 76-49 advantage at halftime.
Madison Square Garden was quiet. The Spurs looked poised to even the NBA Finals at two games apiece. Then the impossible happened.
Madison Square Garden witnessed something special
The Knicks slowly began chipping away at the lead during the third quarter. A stop here. A three-pointer there. Another defensive stand.
As the lead shrank, belief inside the arena grew. What started as a respectable comeback effort evolved into a full-scale collapse by the Spurs and a historic rally by New York. Every possession seemed to swing momentum further toward the home team.
The Garden crowd, stunned into silence during the first half, transformed into a wall of noise. By the closing minutes, the building felt like it expected the comeback to happen. The Knicks eventually completed the rally with a 107-106 victory, sending fans into a frenzy and leaving the Spurs searching for answers.
MORE: Madison Square Garden witnessed a comeback for the ages
One win from ending a 53-year drought
The victory gives New York a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and puts the franchise one win away from its first championship since 1973.
More importantly, it may go down as the defining moment of this playoff run. Championship teams often have one game that becomes part of franchise lore.
One game that fans talk about for decades. This was that game. The Knicks were staring at a 29-point deficit against a Spurs team led by arguably the most dominant young player in basketball.
The win probability chart suggested the game was effectively over. The eye test suggested the game was over. The scoreboard suggested the game was over. Yet somehow, New York found a way.
Which brings us back to Haberstroh's reaction.
After witnessing one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA Finals history, there really may not be a better question to ask.
How?
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