The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets for Game 2, and the NBA chose Scott Foster as the lead official. The veteran referee has been dealing with a calf injury but is back in this crucial contest. Foster has a reputation for extending series and favoring the home teams in his games. The league office should be excited about both after the road team has won the first five games in the four conference semifinals.
The Thunder lost Game 1 in incredible fashion. There was a series of errors, including questionable coaching, that ultimately cost the team with the best regular season record in the league. Nobody wants to see OKC go down 2-0 and lose both games at home. There have been several collapses by the home team late, and Scott Foster may be used to put a stop to it.
The league knows the Thunder have virtually zero chance of winning if they go down 0-2 with the Nuggets getting three games in Denver. That is why they need the extender this early.
NBA sends out “the extender” after Thunder drop Game 1
OKC faces a must-win on Wednesday night. There is no stopping Nikola Jokic. He dominated Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 1. The Thunder will throw different looks at him but expect the three-time MVP to put up monster numbers in this series and win Denver more games. If OKC goes down twice at home to begin this series, they likely have the same result as last season.
Home teams have won 59.8 percent of the games Foster has refereed since his career began in 1994, and the Thunder are 2-0 with him calling their games this season. He is known for making controversial calls and often favors the home team.
There is always talk about the officials, and there is arguably no more famous current referee than Foster. He is no stranger to controversy and is never afraid to make a call. Jokic was in foul trouble in Game 1 and may be again on Wednesday night. If Foster holds to his trends, the Thunder should expect a favorable whistle in Game 2.
The Oklahoma City Thunder must win the game on the floor. They need someone to step up to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and must execute better down the stretch. Without those things, no official can help them. Scott Foster will do his best tonight and call what he sees. The Thunder's raucous crowd may influence things, and OKC needs all the help possible in dealing with Jokic and the Nuggets.