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

(CNN) – There are certain statistics you would simply never expect to see in sports, and the Boston Celtics recorded perhaps one of the most unlikely milestones of all time.

In the team's 104-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to shoot zero free throws in a game.

To make matters even more bizarre, the Bucks only shot two, meaning the two teams set a new record for fewest free throws during an NBA game.

The Bucks also committed just four fouls the entire game, the fewest in NBA history.

“Man, Adam Silver is the happiest,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said, according to ESPN, referring to the NBA commissioner. “One hour 57 [minutes] Playtime. Gosh, you can go to a game and still eat dinner. Incredible.

“I thought it was a physical game and then they gave me the stat sheet and I told them, 'No, I need the full game.'

“I thought it was the halftime stats. I didn't look at the transcript and say, 'Wow, two free throws for a basketball game.' That's crazy.'”

Before the 2021-22 season, the NBA made a rule change that said referees should not award fouls on players with “overt, abrupt or unusual non-basketball movements.”

The change was made because players like James Harden, Trae Young and Luka Dončić could repeatedly commit fouls with unusual shooting movements that were within the rules at the time.

The previous record low for free throws made by a team during a game was one, held jointly by the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks, while the lowest total in 2019 was 11 by the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, according to ESPN.

“It was strange, but it seems to be the trend,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said. “Fouls are no longer part of the game.

“There were moments where I thought I was going to be fouled, and there were moments where I was surprised that I wasn't fouled, where I might bump into someone or get a piece of someone's arm and they didn't I don't call it, and I'm like, “Man, they're really just letting us play.”

“And then, like the other night, I fouled out about two minutes before the end of the game. I fouled out twice in the last five games or something like that. I hadn't committed a foul for I don't know how long before that. You just have to keep going, no matter how the game goes. I can barely remember any whistles tonight.”

It was a big win for a Bucks team that was on a four-game losing streak and had won just once in its last seven games.

It wasn't all good news, however, as star player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who shot the only two free throws of the game, had to be helped off the field with a calf injury.

Rivers said his concern about the injury was “great.”

“He’s Giannis,” Rivers added. “I think everyone is probably feeling the same way as me right now. We just hope for the best.”

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