There are some statistics in sports that you never expect to see, and the Boston Celtics recently achieved one of the most unexpected milestones in history.

During Tuesday’s 104-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to shoot no free throws.

To make matters even more weird, the Bucks only attempted two, setting a new record for the fewest total free throws attempted during an NBA game.

The Bucks also committed only four fouls throughout the game, the fewest in NBA history.


“Man, Adam Silver’s the happiest,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told ESPN, referring to the NBA commissioner. “Game time is 1 hour and 57 minutes. My gosh, you can go to a game and have dinner. Unbelievable.

“I thought it was a physical game and then they handed me the stat sheet, and I told them: ‘No, I need the full game.'”I thought that was the halftime statistics. I didn’t look at the minutes, just said, ‘Wow, two free throws in a basketball game. “That is crazy.”

Before the 2021-22 season, the NBA changed the rules such that officials should not give fouls to players who use “overt, abrupt, or abnormal non-basketball moves.”

The modification was made owing to players like James Harden, Trae Young, and Luka Dončić routinely drawing fouls with unique shooting motions that were legal at the time.


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

“It was weird, but it seems to be the trend,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said. “There are no fouls in the game anymore.

“It’s like, I’ve had times where I thought I was being fouled, and other times where I was surprised a foul didn’t get called on me, where I might bump someone or get a piece of somebody’s arm and they 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 with about two minutes remaining in the game.” I fouled out twice in the last five games or so. I hadn’t fouled out in probably a long time before this. You just have to go with how the game is going. Tonight, I can’t remember any whistles.”

It was a major win for the Bucks, who had lost four straight games and had only won once in their previous seven.


However, it was not all good news, as star player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who made the game’s only two free throws, had to be assisted off the court due to a calf injury.

Rivers stated that his degree of concern about the injury was “high.”

“He’s Giannis,” Rivers explained. “I believe everyone feels the same way I do right now. “We’ll just hope for the best.”