NBA referee assignments for Pacers vs Thunder Game 4 has fans buzzing: "Silver and the NBA made the call"

On Friday morning, the NBA named Scott Foster the crew chief for Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Josh Tiven and Sean Wright will join Foster in calling the game, while Courtney Kirkland will serve as the alternate.

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Foster’s name on the list promptly caused a reaction among fans.

"Silver and the NBA made the call.....OKC is tying up the series tonight"

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Another fan said:

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The Indiana Pacers took a 2-1 series lead after rallying in the fourth quarter to win Game 3, 116-107, on Wednesday. Another win by Indiana in front of the home fans will push the Pacers to the brink of a championship.

Over the years, fans have dubbed Scott Foster “The Extender.” They could not help but react once he was named crew chief. Many thought Commissioner Adam Silver wanted to make the series longer by assigning the veteran referee to oversee Game 4.

Foster’s appearance in the Finals is no spur-of-the-moment decision by the league. Per NBA.com:

“NBA Finals officials were selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the 2025 playoffs. Officials were evaluated by the Referee Operations management team after each round to determine advancement in this year’s postseason.”

Scott Foster is officiating his 18th NBA Finals, the most among the crew. Tony Brothers and Marc Davis are tied for second with 14 apiece.

Scott Foster officiates his first game in Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals

Scott Foster’s appearance as the Game 4 crew chief has nothing to do with the OKC Thunder facing a 2-1 deficit against the Pacers. Twelve referees will rotate calling the championship series. Foster, who did not officiate the first three games, is scheduled to lead Friday’s game in Indiana.

John Goble opened as the crew chief of the Finals on June 5. Marc Davis and David Guthrie helped him call Game 1. Zac Zarba headed the Game 2 crew three days later. James Williams and Ben Taylor were also on the list. James Capers led the officials in Game 3 on Wednesday, with Tony Brothers and Tyler Ford also calling the game.

Game 4 is Foster’s turn as crew chief. While fans reacted to his assignment, the league has been following a strict rotation, giving Foster the job to lead the referees Friday.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero