In yet another clash between NBA star Chris Paul and referee Scott Foster, Paul was ejected from the Golden State Warriors' game against the Phoenix Suns. This marks Paul's seventh career ejection, adding fuel to their long-standing conflict. The incident occurred with 23 seconds left in the first half when Paul disagreed fervently with a foul called against him on Suns forward Kevin Durant. As Durant prepared to shoot free throws, Paul continued to argue with Foster, leading the referee to slap him with two quick technical fouls and send him out of the game. Warriors coach Steve Kerr also earned a technical for expressing his displeasure at Foster's decision.
This is just the latest chapter in a tumultuous relationship between Paul and Foster. Whenever Foster officiates Paul's games, his teams have lost 13 consecutive playoff games. Paul's overall playoff record stands at 2-17 since 2008, making it clear that there is a history and a contentious dynamic between the two. Back in 2018, Paul criticized Foster for issuing a technical foul against him, suggesting that Foster has a propensity for such actions. Despite Paul's ejection, he had been a standout player for the Warriors in the first half, contributing six assists and helping the team shoot at a higher percentage.
In a night filled with tension and controversy, the clash between Chris Paul and Scott Foster took center stage. With a history of animosity between them, Wednesday's game saw Paul's ejection, marking his seventh career expulsion. The confrontation arose when Paul vehemently disagreed with a foul called against him on the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant, leading Foster to give him two quick technical fouls. This incident adds to the statistical anomaly that Paul's teams have lost 13 consecutive playoff games officiated by Foster. While Kerr also earned a technical for criticizing Foster, Paul had showcased his skills earlier in the game, providing six assists and elevating the team's shooting percentage. It remains to be seen how their contentious relationship will evolve in future matchups.