NBA star Chris Paul (Golden State) put his bitter history with referee Scott Foster to rest when he was unceremoniously ejected from the game against his hometown team, the Phoenix Suns.
Golden State lost 115-123 to Phoenix in a 2023-2024 NBA regular season road game at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., on Jan. 23 (KST).
The Warriors, who dropped to 7-9 and 11th in the Western Conference, ran out of steam after losing Paul to a sudden ejection at the end of the second quarter.
With 23 seconds left in the half, when Golden State trailed 47-58, Paul committed a foul while blocking Phoenix forward Kevin Durant.
While Durant was shooting free throws, Paul approached referee Scott Foster, who made the call, and protested.
When Foster didn’t take it, Paul turned away in frustration, and suddenly Foster blew his whistle and called a technical foul.
As Paul shouted his frustration at the moving Foster, Foster immediately called a second technical foul, sending Paul off the court.
Coach Steve Kerr was furious, so he called another technical foul, this time on Kerr and the Golden State bench.
Without Paul, who had six points and six assists before being ejected, the gap between the two teams grew to 53-73 shortly after the start of the third quarter.
Golden State cut the deficit from more than 20 points to 10 with just over 10 minutes left in the game and pulled to within 115-118 with 19 seconds left in regulation, but could not put the game away.
Paul and referee Foster are an iconic NBA duo.
Paul’s career as a point guard has been one of the best in NBA history, but he hasn’t had much luck in games officiated by Foster.
Paul’s teams are just 3-17 in playoff games officiated by Foster. That includes a 13-game losing streak.
They were so vulnerable that they lost 13 straight games officiated by Foster before beating the Los Angeles Clippers 123-109 in Game 1 of the playoffs in April.
Even in the 2020-2021 championship series with the Milwaukee Bucks (best-of-seven), where he sought his first career title, the Warriors lost Games 3 and 6 under Foster, dropping the series 2-4.
Golden State ace Steph Curry also struggled in the game, finishing with 16 points. He struggled from long range, shooting eight 3-pointers but missing seven.
In Phoenix, Golden State was led by hometown favorite Durant, who exploded for 32 points and eight rebounds.
Devin Booker added 25 points and 10 assists.
Riding a five-game winning streak, Phoenix (9-6) moved into fifth place in the West. 사설토토
[23-day NBA standings]
Phoenix 123-115 Golden State
Dallas 104-101 LA Lakers
Portland 121-105 Utah
Houston 111-91 Memphis
Minnesota 112-99 Philadelphia
New Orleans 117-112 Sacramento
Oklahoma City 116-102 Chicago
LA Clippers 109-102 San Antonio
Atlanta 147-145 Brooklyn
Boston 119-116 Milwaukee
Miami 129-96 Cleveland
Toronto 132-131 Indiana
Charlotte 117-114 Washington
Orlando 124-119 Denver