An 11th chapter was added Thursday to Chris Paul’s uneasy history with NBA referee Scott Foster

© Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Suns guard Chris Paul wasn’t asked about the officiating in a brief press conference after Thursday night’s loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of their playoff series.

But he commented anyway, at least in a roundabout way.

“If I was a betting man, 11 games in a row,” Paul said. “Eleven games in a row.”

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Betting men, and others who follow the NBA intently, know that was a reference to Paul’s losing streak in the playoffs when referee Scott Foster is working. The loss to the Lakers extended that streak to 11.

Paul has a long history with Foster, one of the NBA’s most notable refs. Most recently, Paul criticized Foster last September after Foster called a technical foul on Paul, then with Oklahoma City, for delay of game.

Paul said he was trying to stall to see if he could get a replay 

“Scott Foster came over and told me, ‘Chris, you ain’t got to do that I got them sweeping up the floor,’” Paul said at the time. “OK, cool, so I started tying my shoe back up and still got delay of game.

“That s— don’t make no sense. … We could have won the game, but that situation.”

“They’re going to fine me,” he added. “I said his name. We already know the history.”

When Paul was with Houston, both he and teammate James Harden had issues with Foster. And Paul said at the time he had met with league officials about Foster.

After Thursday night’s game, Paul pointed out the Lakers had shot a great number of free throws in the last two games. In Game 2 on Tuesday, which Foster didn’t work, Lakers’ big man Anthony Davis made 17 of 21 free throws.

On Thursday, the Lakers made 26 of 30 free throws while the Suns made 14 of 18. 

Paul didn’t say Foster’s name Thursday night, perhaps in the hopes of avoiding a fine. But he made his points.

Paul mentioned the streak again when the video conference moderator thanked him for his time after the last question.

“Eleven in a row,” Paul said as he began to get up from a chair.

Reach Kent Somers at Kent.Somers@gannett.com. Follow him on twitter @kentsomers. 

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. 

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: An 11th chapter was added Thursday to Chris Paul’s uneasy history with NBA referee Scott Foster