Indiana Coach Carlisle Defends Referee Foster Amid Game 4 Criticism

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle strongly defended NBA referee Scott Foster following heavy criticism after Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite widespread backlash and accusations that Foster's officiating influenced the game's outcome, Carlisle emphasized his 30-year personal acquaintance with Foster and praised his performance, calling the criticism unfair and unjust. Foster, who officiated his 26th finals game and has the most playoff games worked among active refs, called 23 personal fouls in Game 4, including controversial flagrant fouls and technicals. While some analysts and fans criticized Foster for disrupting the game's flow and making questionable calls, Carlisle insisted that the Pacers themselves needed to improve their discipline, particularly in avoiding fouls. The intensity of the scrutiny on Foster is a recurring theme whenever he officiates, despite his ranking as one of the league's top referees. Carlisle’s defense highlights the tension between officiating and fan perception in high-stakes playoff games.