Game 3 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets was always poised to be chaotic. The first two games in the series were fantastic -- there's clear animosity between the two squads, which was further elevated by Jaden McDaniels calling out the entire Nuggets defense.
Scott Foster being named the crew chief referee for Game 3 gives this game another element of craziness. Foster is by far the most controversial official in the league. Frankly, I don't think he has a high approval rating among any fan base, but Wolves fans especially disdain Foster.
Late in March, Foster officiated a Wolves-Houston Rockets game, which had numerous controversial calls. Some of the worst calls include Naz Reid being ejected in overtime after seemingly normal dialogue with Foster, Julius Randle getting a flagrant foul after running into a screen, and a no-call on the final play in regulation when Randle was brutally fouled. The Wolves ultimately won, and Randle was heard saying, "That (expletive) didn't work, Scott Foster," in the hallway.
Two years ago, Rudy Gobert made a money gesture at Foster after several controversial calls. So yeah, it's safe to say there's a clear history between Foster and the Wolves.
Scott Foster is set to make Game 3 even crazier
After Jamal Murray had 16 free throws in Game 1 and Chris Finch's subsequent comments, and some inconsistent calls (on both sides) in Game 2, officiating has already been a talking point of this series. With Foster calling the game, this will surely be another point of discussion after Game 3.
Despite the somewhat checkered past between Foster and the Wolves, I wouldn't say the deck is stacked against them. Nevertheless, it's likely that we'll see some controversial calls, and it's worth monitoring if these calls negatively impact Minnesota more. It will also be key for the Wolves to keep their composure if the whistle isn't going their way.
The most frustrating part of Foster's officiating style is that he loves to steal the show, calling every possible foul, and he especially loves handing out technical fouls. In the playoffs, this can put a real damper on the game. I'll never forget how many unnecessary fouls he called in Game 4 of last year's NBA Finals.
Given the bad blood between these two teams and Foster's affinity for ejecting players, I'd venture to guess that someone will get tossed. At the very least, it's fair to expect more fouls than normal to be called.
Overall, Game 3 was already poised for fireworks, and with Foster's inclusion, some level of chaos is all but guaranteed -- so fans better buckle up.
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