Paul lights into ref Scott Foster after Thunder's Game 7 loss

An interesting night for NBA officiating took another turn Wednesday when Chris Paul lambasted referee Scott Foster following the Oklahoma City Thunder's 104-102 Game 7 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Paul took issue with an instance in the fourth quarter where Foster whistled him for a delay of game while tying his shoe.

"It's crazy. ... I dropped down to tie my shoe up, to hopefully see if we see the replay," Paul said, according to Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks. "Scott Foster walked over to me and told me, 'Chris, you ain't gotta do that, I got them sweeping up the floor.' OK, cool, so I start tying my shoe back up. He still calls a delay of game."

Paul added: "We could have won the game, but that situation, the league knows - they going to fine me, I said his name, they already know the history."

In another twist, he said Foster made a point to tell him before Wednesday's game that he also reffed Paul's Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 2008 when he was with the New Orleans Hornets, according to ESPN's Marc J. Spears.

When Paul was with the Rockets in 2018, he lit into the veteran referee for calling him for a technical foul. This in part led Houston to release data that suggested officials were favoring the Golden State Warriors in playoff matchups.

Wednesday's Game 7 also featured an unusual off-ball foul call on James Harden in the final seconds. Earlier in the night, referees in the Heat-Bucks game called two controversial fouls in the final minute.