In an unexpected twist, the Dallas Mavericks continued their NBA Finals journey on Friday night by crushing the Boston Celtics with a startling 122-84 victory in Game 4, as Luka Doncic led the scoreboard with 29 points. Despite such a notable performance, fans’ discussions online have fixated on something else entirely – accusations targeting the game officials, primarily Scott Foster.
The Impact of Scott Foster
Scott Foster’s role as an official has caught numerous eyes this postseason due to his recurrent presence in games where the trailing team manages a win. This tendency has earned him the nickname “The Extender.” Such was the case on June 14th, as Celtics guard Derrick White was seen conversing passionately with Foster during key moments of the game.
Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations, defended these officials by noting: “Each of these 12 officials have shown excellent skills, focus and commitment throughout the season and in the previous playoff rounds”
. His comments aim to quell rumors of bias or undue influence in the officiating ranks.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Among all referees, Foster stands out with significant experience, having officiated 24 NBA Finals games so far. Demonstrating his command on the court is one thing but statistics paint an interesting picture. Fans note that home teams boast a 60.1% win rate in games officiated by Foster across his extensive career.
Mavericks’ Stellar Performance
This speculation around Scott Foster’s influencing games detracts notably from Mavericks’ team performance. Jason Kidd, Mavericks coach, praised his team’s readiness and resilience after facing potential elimination: “Our group was ready to go. They were ready to celebrate and we made a stand. We were desperate. We’ve got to continue to keep playing that way.”
Luka Doncic especially brought heat early on, scoring 25 of his 29 points in just the first half. Teammate Kyrie Irving also added 21 points to secure an emphatic victory for their team.
The Ongoing Debate
The social media world reacted swiftly post-game, buzzing with assertions about The Extender’s influence and implications for future games. This scrutiny won’t easily fade ahead of Game 5 in Boston. For now, fans will closely watch who’s officiating that critical match as the Mavericks aim to continue their surprising run.
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