Boston Celtics become first team in NBA history to shoot zero free throws in a game during bizarre loss to Milwaukee Bucks

CNN
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There are particular statistics that you just simply by no means count on to see in sports activities, and the Boston Celtics recorded maybe one of the crucial unlikely milestones of all time.

Throughout the group’s 104-91 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Celtics grew to become the primary group in NBA historical past to shoot zero free throws in a recreation.

To make issues much more weird, the Bucks solely shot two, which means the 2 groups set a brand new document for the fewest complete free throws shot throughout an NBA recreation.

The Bucks additionally dedicated simply 4 fouls all recreation, the fewest in NBA historical past.

“Man, Adam Silver’s the happiest,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers mentioned, referring to the NBA commissioner, per ESPN. “One hour 57 [minutes] recreation time. My goodness, you possibly can go to a recreation and nonetheless have dinner. Unbelievable.

“I believed it was a bodily recreation after which they handed me the stat sheet, and I advised them: ‘No, I want the complete recreation.’

“I believed it was the halftime stats. I didn’t have a look at the minutes after which I mentioned: ‘Wow, two free throws for a basketball recreation. That’s loopy.’”

Forward of the 2021-22 season, the NBA made a rule change that said referees shouldn’t award fouls drawn by gamers utilizing “overt, abrupt or irregular non-basketball strikes.”

The change was made as a result of gamers comparable to James Harden, Trae Younger and Luka Dončić constantly having the ability to draw fouls with uncommon capturing motions that, on the time, had been throughout the guidelines.

The earlier document low free of charge throws shot by a group throughout a recreation was one, which was held collectively by the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks, whereas the bottom mixed complete was 11 set by Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic in 2019, per ESPN.

“It was bizarre, nevertheless it appears to be the development,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard mentioned. “Fouls should not part of the sport no extra.

“It’s like, I’ve had instances the place I believed I used to be getting fouled and there’s been different instances the place I used to be stunned a foul didn’t get referred to as on me, the place I would bump someone or get a bit of someone’s arm they usually don’t name it, and I’m like: ‘Man, they’re actually simply letting us play.’

“After which, like the opposite evening, I fouled out with like two minutes left within the recreation. I fouled out twice in our final 5 video games or one thing like that. I hadn’t fouled out in I don’t understand how lengthy earlier than this. You’ve simply bought to roll with nevertheless the sport goes. Tonight, I hardly keep in mind any whistles.”

It was an enormous win for a Bucks group that had been on a four-game dropping streak and had received simply as soon as in its earlier seven video games.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t all excellent news as star man Giannis Antetokounmpo, who shot the one two free throws of the sport, needed to be helped off the court docket with a calf harm.

Rivers mentioned his degree of concern over the harm was “excessive.”

“He’s Giannis,” Rivers added. “I believe everybody in all probability feels the identical method as I do proper now. We’re simply going to hope for one of the best.”