Chris Paul criticizes ref Scott Foster after Game 7 loss: 'S--- don’t make no sense'

Cassandra Negley
Updated

Chris Paul called out officiating crew chief Scott Foster after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 7 loss on Wednesday night and expects to be fined for it.

The Thunder dropped out of the playoffs by a 104-102 score to the Houston Rockets in a wild ending that included a James Harden block.

It was a delay of game violation called on Paul that got him talking after the game, and reignited the history of issues between the two.

Paul calls out ref for delay call

Paul was called for a delay of game violation in the second quarter while the cleaning crew was on the floor at the same time.

Paul was asked about the call and said he was trying to stall to see if he could catch the in-house replay. He said he wanted to know if the Thunder should challenge the previous play on which he was called for a shooting foul. It was a one-point game with 2:29 remaining in the half.

“Scott Foster came over and told me, Chris, you ain’t got to do that I got them sweeping up the floor,” Paul said. “OK, cool, so I started tying my shoe back up and still got delay of game.

“That s--- don’t make no sense. ... We could have won the game, but that situation.”

“They’re going to fine me,” he added. “I said his name. We already know the history.”

Paul, 35, became the oldest player to record a triple-double in a Game 7 with 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.

Paul, Foster have heated history

Chris Paul walks up to referees on the court.
Referees Tony Brown (6), Pat Fraher, left rear, and Scott Foster, confer on a foul call against the Houston Rockets as Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul, right, gets involved. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Paul and Foster have been a part of plenty of games together, and it has produced memorable outcomes. Foster reffed the 2008 Game 7 between Paul’s Charlotte Hornets and the San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets lost, 91, 82.

Foster reminded Paul of that prior to the game, Paul said.

They’ve had issues in games the past two years. Last season, both Paul, then with the Rockets, and Harden criticized Foster after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Both players fouled out.

"I've met with the league with him before. I don't know what else to do," Paul said in February 2019.

Paul was reportedly part of a meeting in February 2018 between players and officials to discuss the widening divide between the two sides and how to better relations.

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Originally published