Update: Scott Foster not available to officiate Celtics-Bucks Game 6 due to non-COVID related illness

BOSTON (CBS) — There was some restrained jubilation among Celtics fans Friday morning when it was announced that Scott Foster would be one of the officials for Boston’s must-win Game 6 against the Bucks. Foster is known to many as “The Extender” because of the frequency that teams trailing in a series tend to win when he’s on the court.

However, just a few hours before tipoff, the NBA announced that Foster was no longer available for Friday night’s game due to a non-COVID related illness.

Scott Foster (non-Covid related illness) is not available to officiate tonight’s game between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.

Eric Lewis (Crew Chief), Ben Taylor (Referee), Tre Maddox (Umpire) and Nick Buchert (Alternate) will be the officiating crew for the game.

— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) May 13, 2022

Which is fine, really. The Celtics shouldn’t be relying on the officiating anyways to extend their series with the Bucks — not that they were feeling that way heading into Game 6.

(And if it makes you feel better, the Celtics have won 14 straight — including five playoff games — officiated by Eric Lewis.)

The Celtics should be on a mission to bounce back from their Game 5 loss in Boston, in which they blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to fall into a 3-2 series hole. And there should be confidence that they can win Friday anyways, considering they were able to earn a split in Milwaukee earlier in the set, taking Game 4 after nearly sneaking out a win in Game 3 despite a lackluster night from Jayson Tatum.

Tipoff for Game 6 is scheduled for shortly after 7:30pm on Friday night. Game 7 would be Sunday at TD Garden at 3:30pm — if necessary.