Boston Celtics Create NBA History by Shooting Zero Free Throws in a Game
The Boston Celtics’ offense, known for its prolific scoring, has been setting numerous NBA records this season. However, the team made NBA history on Tuesday night in a game where their offense struggled to perform.

During their 104-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, not a single Boston Celtics player made a trip to the free-throw line, as reported by Statmuse. Despite heavy minutes played by key players like Jayson Tatum (37 minutes) and Jaylen Brown (36 minutes), the team failed to draw any fouls resulting in free throw opportunities. This unique occurrence marks the first time in NBA history that a team has played an entire game without attempting a single free throw.

The three referees overseeing the game, Marc Davis, Bent Taylor, and Danielle Scott, called a total of only 12 fouls, with eight fouls assessed to the Boston Celtics and four to the Milwaukee Bucks. It was notably an unusually light workload for the officiating crew. The sole player to reach the free-throw line in the first quarter was Giannis Antetokounmpo, who made one of two free throws attempted in the game.

Interestingly, the minimal free-throw action seen on Tuesday night also set a new NBA record for the lowest combined free-throw attempts in a game. The previous record was set on November 10, 2019, during a matchup between the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers, with a total of 11 free throws attempted. This game surpassed that mark, highlighting the rarity of such a low number of free throw attempts by both teams. Additionally, the single-team record for fewest free throws attempted was previously shared by the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies, with each team attempting just one free throw in separate games.

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The lackluster performance by the Boston Celtics on Tuesday can be attributed to their strategic approach, especially considering the advanced stage of the regular season where their playoff seeding was already determined. In their game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a significant portion of the Celtics’ offensive plays revolved around perimeter shooting, with 52 of their 93 shot attempts coming from beyond the arc. This strategic emphasis on three-point shooting resulted in a simplified offensive scheme.

Despite the efforts of players like Jaylen Brown, who attempted nine shots from inside the paint compared to Jayson Tatum’s five, the Celtics struggled to generate scoring opportunities near the basket. Only one of these attempts translated into a free-throw opportunity, highlighting the team’s difficulty in drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line.

Fortunately for the Boston Celtics, the disappointing performance ended relatively quickly. The game concluded at 1:57, lasting less than two hours and devoid of the usual interruptions often seen at the free-throw line. This efficient pace likely provided little solace for the Celtics, given their defeat, but it did contribute to a swift conclusion to their challenging night on the court.