Referee Scott Foster ejects Chris Paul after yet another conflict / News - Basketnews.com

Foster gave Paul two technical fouls after discussing a previous foul call. Paul has had a conflict with Foster for multiple years now, with the veteran guard publicly calling the official out several times.

Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix Credit Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul hasn't had good relations with referee Scott Foster for a significant period of time. The silent conflict got another iteration Wednesday night.

Player of the Game EFF 29 Kevin Durant Points 32 Accuracy 7-14 Rebounds 8 Assists 2

Paul was called with a foul against Kevin Durant by Foster with 23.2 seconds remaining in the second quarter. When Durant was shooting free throws, Paul and Foster were passionately discussing the episode.

Moments later, Paul got hit with a technical foul. Unhappy with the punishment, the veteran guard kept going at the referee and quickly received his second tech. Subsequently, he was ejected from the game.

After the call, Paul kept going at Foster and had to be held back by Stephen Curry not to incite a bigger conflict.

Foster later explained that the ejection was for unsportsmanlike conduct, electing not explain his decision further.

Paul has been a long-time critic of Foster. His animosity toward the referee started in 2018. "Scott Foster, man. I never really talk about officiating or anything like that, but just rude and arrogant," the player said about the official after a regular season game that year. "Scott Foster at his finest. Never fails," he told the media in the locker room.

In 2019, James Harden, Paul's teammate at the time, said that it was personal between Paul and Foster.

Paul has been on the losing end of games officiated by Foster for numerous years. Before he broke the streak last season, Paul had lost 13 straight playoff games in which Foster was one of the referees.

After a playoff game against the Houston Rockets in 2020, Paul openly criticized Foster for his behavior after receiving a delay of game call during the last seconds of the match when Paul wanted to challenge a controversial decision to cancel a called foul before giving a timeout to the Rockets.

Paul has mentioned he's addressed the matter with the league and even had meetings, but to no avail.

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