Heat record with Scott Foster: Inside Miami’s losing streak when NBA referee works their games
Scott Foster #ScottFoster
The Heat have been close to unstoppable at home in these playoffs, entering Friday night’s Game 6 with a perfect 4-0 record at the Kaseya Center between their series against the Bucks and Knicks.
If recent history is any indication, only one man might be able to stop them: Scott Foster.
One of the NBA’s most prominent officials, Foster gained notoriety for Chris Paul’s lack of success in games he officiated. Paul was on a 13-game losing streak in playoff games officiated by Foster until the Suns picked up a win in Game 2 of their series against the Clippers last month.
MORE: Inside Chris Paul’s awful history when Scott Foster works his games
If Paul can break the curse, perhaps the Heat can as well. Here’s what you need to know about Miami’s brutal record when Foster has the whistle.
Fire up the conspiracy theories! The Heat have lost their last 10 games officiated by Foster and are 1-12 with Foster over the last two seasons. Along with having only one win, Miami is just 3-10 against the spread in games officiated by Foster in that span.
That stretch includes four playoff games, all of which were Heat losses. Foster officiated Miami’s Game 4 loss to the 76ers in the playoffs last season, as well as two of four Heat losses in the Eastern Conference Finals. He also officiated Game 2 of their current series against the Knicks, which the Heat lost 111-105 in New York.
Miami’s last win with Foster behind the whistle came on Jan. 12, 2022, against the Hawks.
MORE: Why playoff history of Scott Foster drums up interest beyond viral Jack Harlow controversy
While the Heat are just 2-8 against the spread in their 10-game Foster losing streak, it’s worth noting they were only favored in one of those games: A regular-season loss to the Grizzlies in December. The rest, including all four playoff games, saw Miami enter as an underdog.
That won’t be the case on Friday, however, as the Heat enter favored to close out the series at home. If Miami loses its first home game of these playoffs with Foster officiating, the theories could run wild.
Below is a closer look at the Heat’s 10-game losing streak in games officiated by Foster.
Date Opponent Result May 2, 2023 Knicks L, 111-105 March 28, 2023 Raptors L, 111-104 Feb. 15, 2023 Nets L, 113-87 Dec. 5, 2022 Grizzlies L, 101-93 Nov. 20, 2022 Cavaliers L, 116-105 Oct. 21, 2022 Celtics L, 106-92 May 29, 2022 Celtics L, 100-96 May 23, 2023 Celtics L, 102-82 May 8, 2023 76ers L, 116-108 March 2, 2022 Bucks L, 120-119
H/T @tomhaberstroh