I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen a party ask for an extension of time, and the other party refuses to confer with opposing counsel and agree to it. It's basic decency outside some very unusual set of circumstances. Better yet, childishly resisting such an extension is almost never in anyone's own self-interest because they are granted as a matter of course.
I'm pretty sure the judge is pissed getting having to get directly involved to deal with plaintiff-caused squabbles like this. There was also no chance he wasn't going to grant the request.