The fourth matchup of the 2025 NBA Finals was another memorable event in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s point guard, was found in the middle of a controversy. This time, it wasn’t about foul-baiting but about committing one and not being called for it.
While the NBA MVP notched up a game-winning performance by the end of the fourth quarter, fans were furious as referee Scott Foster didn’t call a foul against the Thunder star when he pushed off and missed a travel on Aaron Nesmith.
NBA Fans Blast Ref Scott Foster For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Push Off and Travel Against Pacers
Trailing by 2-1 heading into Game 4 of the Finals, the Thunder struggled on offense for most of the night and were trailing by seven points leading into the fourth quarter. The Pacers put up a tremendous defensive performance and tied Gilgeous-Alexander for most of the game, limiting his abilities as a playmaker and managing to keep him off the free-throw line for much of the first three quarters.
While Gilgeous-Alexander went on a rampage in the fourth quarter and scored nine straight Thunder points, it didn’t come without controversy. He scored the first Thunder lead of the second half, 104-103, with 2:23 remaining on a controversial baseline jumper, drawing large criticism from the fans for himself and Foster.
Should this have been an offensive foul or travel by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?? pic.twitter.com/TzOYkn8cY9
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 14, 2025
The NBA MVP clearly appeared to push off Nesmith with his forearm before travelling back a little for the jumper over Andrew Nembhard. Foster did apparently notice the contact but didn’t call a foul, leaving fans fuming over the internet.
“Time to investigate the ref that’s looking directly at the play. Oh wait is that Scott Foster?????,” a frustrated fan wrote.
Time to investigate the ref that’s looking directly at the play. Oh wait is that Scott Foster?????
— PokerJunkie (@pokerjunkie) June 14, 2025
“Richard Jefferson celebrating an obvious push off. What a joke,” a fan wrote, taking a dig at one of Gilgeous-Alexander’s biggest defenders of his what many call foul-baiting.
Richard Jefferson celebrating an obvious push off
What a joke
— Gabe Moon (@theofficialgabe) June 14, 2025
Foster has now made a reputation for making questionable calls that impact the outcome of playoff series, and even ESPN’s Tim Legler said postgame, “There were a number of missed travels in this game, no doubt about it.”
“They don’t call Scott Foster ‘The Extender’ for nothing,” one fan reminded the NBA.
“Yep… I figured it would be bad tonight, but Foster and his crew were historically awful. Unbelievable stuff,” another user wrote.
“Those rules don’t apply to sga,” alleged one user.
Well, one user had a different theory, arguing the NBA was biased over aggressive plays by the defenders and offensive players.
“NBA doesn’t let defenders play aggressively but offensive plays can do this shit no problem. It’s a clear double standard that the NBA hasn’t done anything to fix,” they wrote.
NBA doesn’t let defenders play aggressively but offensive plays can do this shit no problem. It’s a clear double standard that the NBA hasn’t done anything to fix. https://t.co/Ek4oEW481b
— Certified SadBoi🥶 (@AstroxB0i) June 14, 2025
Either way, the foul might not have had much impact on the game, given how good Gilgeous-Alexander had started playing by the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of the Thunder’s final 16 points as they leveled the series with a 111-104 win. But it’s worth noting that the Thunder never trailed after that jumper.
Gilgeous-Alexander eventually finished with a game-high 35 points, three rebounds, and three steals. He was 12-of-24 shooting, and while he hit all 10 of his free-throw attempts, he didn’t record an assist for the first time in five years.
