Scott Foster injury
Scott Foster (center) treating his bloody nose on Thursday, May 22.
NEED TO KNOW
An NBA ref suffered an injury when he came into contact with one of the players during the Western Conference Finals
Game 2 between the Thunder and the Timberwolves was paused briefly as Scott Foster's bloody nose was treated
The game resumed shortly after, with Foster returning to officiate
Veteran NBA referee Scott Foster was inadvertently responsible for a delay of game during the Western Conference Finals.
Foster, 58, suffered a bloody nose after he unexpectedly came between the ball and an Oklahoma City Thunder player’s arm during a jump ball just about 90 seconds into the game on Thursday, May 22.
During the unexpected moment, the Thunder’s Luguentz Dort and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle swiped at the ball, with Dort’s hand coming down across Foster’s face. Randle also accidentally kicked Foster on the play.
“I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often, as he gets whacked in the face inadvertently,” ESPN's Mike Breen said during the broadcast, while offering viewers play-by-play of the replay.
As players looked on, Foster was attended to on the sidelines and the game was delayed.
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The ref returned to the game and play resumed moments later — but those watching couldn’t get over the unlikely contact. "Scott will be razzed on this that he can't take a punch," ESPN’s rules analyst Steve Javie, who is a former ref, said.
Foster, who has officiated in the NBA since 1994, has frequently been the unwanted center of attention. The ref is jokingly referred to as “The Extender” due to his impact on games in which a trailing team in a series often wins games.
Foster has also faced allegations of calling games to influence sports betting.
Last season, the official had a run-in with another Timberwolves player. During a game in March 2024, Rudy Gobert rubbed his fingers together in a money gesture in Foster’s direction, implying that his calls were influencing the game.
Gobert was fined $100,000 for his behavior.