NBA referee Scott Foster faced a tough night during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday. The game, played between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves, took a dramatic turn when Foster was accidentally injured on the court.
Midway through the first quarter, Foster, 58, was involved in a jump ball situation. Oklahoma City forward Luguentz Dort made a play for the ball but missed, striking Foster in the face instead. The impact was severe enough to leave Foster with a bloody nose, prompting a brief pause in the game as medical staff attended to him.
Adding to the chaos, Timberwolves forward Julius Randle also unintentionally hit Foster, kicking him in the stomach during the same play. Despite the injuries, Foster was able to continue officiating the game after receiving treatment.
This incident marks not only a challenging moment for Foster but also highlights his ongoing struggles with injuries this season. Earlier, he had to leave a regular-season game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat due to a calf issue.
Interestingly, veteran point guard Chris Paul was present at the game to witness Foster’s injury. Paul has a long history with the referee, having openly criticized him in the past. His record in playoff games officiated by Foster is notably poor, standing at 3-17. The tension between them dates back to 2018 when Paul was penalized with a technical foul during a game officiated by Foster.
After the incident, Foster remained on the court, showing his resilience as he continued to officiate the game. The combination of the injury and the presence of Paul added an unexpected layer of drama to an already intense playoff matchup.