NBA Assigns Perfect Ref as 76ers Look to Force Game 7
The Philadelphia 76ers look to keep their NBA Championship dreams alive when they host the New York Knicks for Game 6 of their first-round series on Thursday. After staving off elimination with a hard-fought overtime win on Tuesday, all eyes are on Nick Nurse's team to see if it can force a Game 7.
While time will reveal the outcome of tonight's collision, 76ers fans can rest easy knowing that the Game 6 crew chief is someone with a reputation for extending playoff series.
76ers News: Scott Foster to Officiate Game 6 vs. Knicks
On Thursday morning, the NBA revealed that Scott Foster — known around the basketball world as "The Extender" — will serve as the Game 6 crew chief. Additionally, Bill Kennedy and Mark Lindsay have been named the referee and umpire, respectively, while JB DeRosa is an alternate.
Referee assignments for tonight’s Sixers-Knicks game: Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy, Mark Lindsay.
— Harrison Grimm (@Harrison_Grimm) May 2, 2024
While Foster isn't the most popular official among NBA enthusiasts, his presence could be good news for the 76ers. After all, the 57-year-old earned the "Extender" nickname because teams trailing in a postseason series tend to win when he's on the floor.
Additionally, home teams have tended to play better under Foster throughout the 2023-24 campaign. In the 68 games that he's officiated so far this season, the home team is 45-23 (66.2%) with a plus-7.3 average scoring margin. Home teams are also 4-1 with a plus-12.8 margin under Foster's watch in the postseason.
But even if things look promising with Foster in attendance, the 76ers can't rely on the crew chief to lead them to victory. The Knicks will be hungry to bounce back following Tuesday's clash, meaning the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris must do their part to ensure the Sixers' survival.
Fortunately, there's a good chance that we'll see a Game 7 being played on Saturday. FanDuel Sportsbook currently lists the 76ers as 3-point favorites over the Knicks in Game 6 with -154 odds on the moneyline — an implied win probability of 60.6%.
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