Celtics, Bucks combine for record-low 2 free throw attempts

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics mixed for a document low two free throw makes an attempt Tuesday evening. The Celtics additionally turned the primary workforce in NBA historical past to not shoot one.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo shot the one two free throws of the sport, making one, within the Bucks’ 104-91 victory.

“Man, [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver’s the happiest,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “1:57 sport time. My goodness, you’ll be able to go to a sport and nonetheless have dinner. Unbelievable.”

Rivers mentioned he did not understand there have been so few free throws till after the sport.

“I believed it was a bodily sport, after which they handed me the stat sheet, and I informed them, ‘No, I want the total sport,'” Rivers mentioned. “I believed it was the halftime stats. I did not have a look at the minutes. After which I mentioned, ‘Wow, two free throws for a basketball sport. That is loopy.'”

The Memphis Grizzlies (2014) and Atlanta Hawks (2018) shared the earlier document of 1 tried free throw in a sport. The Bucks dedicated simply 4 fouls Tuesday, the fewest in league historical past.

The 2 mixed makes an attempt shattered the earlier document of 11, set Nov. 10, 2019, when the Indiana Pacers shot 5 and the Orlando Magic had six.

“Perhaps simply gearing up for the playoffs,” Boston’s Jayson Tatum mentioned. “They’ll let numerous issues go, I assume simply getting us prepared for playoff basketball.”

It was notably shocking that this document occurred in a sport that includes the Bucks and Celtics. Antetokounmpo entered Tuesday with an NBA-leading 780 free throw makes an attempt. Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard ranked seventh (494) and Tatum was eighth (488) in that class.

Tuesday evening’s officiating crew featured Marc Davis, Ben Taylor and Danielle Scott.

Lillard famous that foul calls appear to have gone down throughout the league late within the season.

“It was bizarre, however it appears to be the development,” Lillard mentioned. “Fouls will not be part of the sport no extra. It is like, I’ve had instances the place I believed I used to be getting fouled, and there is been different instances the place I used to be shocked a foul did not get referred to as on me, the place I would bump any person or get a bit of any person’s arm and so they do not name it, and I am 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 sport. I fouled out twice in our final 5 video games or one thing like that. I hadn’t fouled out in I do not know the way lengthy earlier than this. You’ve got simply obtained to roll with nonetheless the sport goes. Tonight, I hardly bear in mind any whistles.”

The Related Press contributed to this story.