Boston Celtics Make Crazy NBA History in Loss to Milwaukee Bucks

The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks made history in their matchup on Tuesday. These two squads combined for a record-low two free throw attempts in the entire game. Two.

The previous record for fewest free throws in a game was 11, per StatMuse.

But that wasn't the only history. The Celtics made some history of their own, as they went the entire 48 minutes of action without attempting a free throw. They are the first team in NBA history to do that, also per StatMuse.

The only player to reach the free-throw line was Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who later left the game with a non-contact injury. Coaches and players from both sides were shocked by the lack of calls and gave their takes on the matter. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said NBA commissioner Adam Silver must be happy with the outcome and didn't realize the lack of free throws until after the game.

"Man, Adam Silver's the happiest," Rivers said. "1:57 game time. My goodness, you can go to a game and still have dinner. Unbelievable.

Rivers continued: "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 it was the halftime stats. I didn't look at the minutes. And then I said, 'Wow, two free throws for a basketball game. That's crazy.'"

Celtic superstar Jayson Tatum opined that maybe the NBA officials are getting ready for the postseason, where games are more physical.

"Maybe just gearing up for the playoffs," Tatum said. "They're going to let a lot of things go, I guess just getting us ready for playoff basketball."

Bucks superstar Damian Lillard says he has noticed the referees are swallowing their whistles more as of late.

"It was weird, but it seems to be the trend," Lillard said. "Fouls are not a part of the game no more. It's like, I've had times where I thought I was getting fouled, and there's been other times where I was surprised a foul didn't get called on me, where I might bump somebody 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 like two minutes left in the game. I fouled out twice in our last five games or something like that. I hadn't fouled out in I don't know how long before this. You've just got to roll with however the game is going. Tonight, I hardly remember any whistles."

The Celtics surpassed the 2018 Atlanta Hawks for the fewest free throw attempts in a game in NBA history. The Hawks only attempted one against the Orlando Magic in that game.

Correction 4/11/24, 4:20 a.m. ET: A misspelling of Milwaukee Bucks was changed.