Game 4 didn’t go well for the Indiana Pacers, but their head coach doesn’t want to hear complaints about the NBA officials who oversaw it.
Speaking with the press, via ESPN, Rick Carlisle called out the people who have criticized referee Scott Foster.
“It’s awful what some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating and Scott Foster in particular. He’s a great official, he’s done a great job in these playoffs,” Carlisle said.
Rick Carlisle defended Scott Foster. pic.twitter.com/LGHpH6NAUL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 16, 2025
Foster has received nasty nicknames over the years from NBA fans, including “The Extender.”
That is because some people believe teams that are down in a series always benefit from Foster’s whistle and the fouls that he calls.
During Game 4, the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder combined for 71 free throws, with the Thunder holding the advantage at 38-33.
There were also two technical fouls and two flagrant fouls, too.
Some fans feel that Foster unfairly makes or avoids calls, and they see that as either shoddy work or an intentional move to even the series.
Even though Carlisle and his team didn’t benefit from Foster’s work on Friday night, he still respects him and his work and doesn’t think people should speak poorly about him.
With that being said, this probably won’t stop the fans.
They have strong opinions about all NBA refs, not just Foster, and they let them be known often.
Carlisle has worked with Foster for years and knows him beyond his work on the court.
Still, the fans will continue to hold a grudge when they feel that he doesn’t officiate in the right way.
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