Watch: NBA referee left with bloody nose after absorbing hard playoff foul

The 58-year-old Foster became the latest NBA figure to get derailed by the Oklahoma City Thunder's physical play on a jump ball between Minnesota's Julius Randle and OKC's Lu Dort. As the ball went up, a flailing Dort landed a kick to Foster's gut, then struck him in the face with his right arm.

The game was delayed as Foster attended to his bleeding nose. The remaining officials helped Foster, though they declined to review video evidence, since the NBA's flagrant foul rules do not extend to questionable contact to the head and neck of game officials.

Foster learned what many of the Thunder's opponents have during this postseason. OKC's players fight hard for the ball and aren't afraid of contact, often daring the referees to call fouls when they play aggressively. Apparently, that mentality also extends to innocent bystanders on jump balls.

The veteran official stayed in the game, officiating with one nostril plugged. It didn't affect the crew's feelings toward the Thunder defenders, either. The Minnesota Timberwolves shot just one free throw in the first half — though no one started bleeding, either.