If you believe in conspiracy theories, the NBA just opened a can of worms before Game 6 of the Knicks-76ers first-round playoff series Thursday night.
Scott Foster, nicknamed “The Extender” by NBA fans, will be one of the referees for the much-anticipated matchup at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
Home teams went 45-23 (66.2 percent) with Foster on the whistle this year, while covering in 39 of those games (57.4 percent) and winning by an average of 7.3 points, according to covers.com.
The Knicks are 11-8 with Foster refereeing their games over the last three seasons, including a Game 1 win in this series, while the 76ers are 8-8 in that same stretch, according to the Knicks.
The 76ers, though, are 7-3 at home with Foster in that span, while the Knicks are 2-3 on the road.
Even before the referees had been assigned, any sports fan knows that the NBA would love a Game 7 between the Knicks and 76ers at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
It’s just good business having two premier franchises battling in a win-or-go-home game.
But for Knicks fans, hearing that a referee known as “The Extender” will now be calling Game 6 can certainly raise the antennae.
The NBA will never escape its dubious past with referees thanks to Tim Donaghy’s gambling scandal, and Foster was one of the disgraced referee’s allies.
Donaghy phoned Foster 134 calls from 2006-07 when he was betting on games and sharing inside information.
Foster was never charged with a crime nor alleged to have bet on games or influenced lines, but that association remains.
The veteran referee also has drawn ire from plenty of players during his time, including Knicks wing Josh Hart, who ripped Foster after being ejected during a loss to the Bulls last month.
Timberwolves defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert earned a $100,000 fine for making a “money” gesture to Foster earlier this year, while Chris Paul said it’s “personal” between him and Foster after an ejection.
As a referee, Foster is known for calling games tightly.
The Knicks’ refereeing guide had Foster rated as “very high” in foul calls, personal fouls, foul calls in the restricted area, offensive fouls, traveling violations, dribbling violations and other violations.
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He rated “high” in shooting fouls.
The 76ers are three-point favorites over the Knicks at FanDuel with a projected total of 201.