Jayson Tatum Reacts as League Leaders Celtics Break an Unwanted NBA Record in Milwaukee Loss

The Boston Celtics suffered a tough road loss tonight against the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks dominated Jayson Tatum and Co. throughout the game and blew them out 104-91. With just 3 games remaining in the regular season, both teams also got a slight taste of playoff basketball from the officials. Tatum found the Celtics in the NBA record books after tonight’s loss for all the wrong reasons.

The Celtics vs. Bucks game created history tonight by setting a record for the fewest free throws attempted in a game. They combined for only 2 attempts from the charity stripes in tonight’s clash. Today’s game broke the previous record of 11 attempts, set on November 10, 2019, during the Pacers vs. Magic game. The Celtics also became the first team in NBA history to shoot 0 free throws in a game! This means the only two free throw attempts were shot by Giannis Antetokounmpo. After the game, Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum shook his head in disbelief, saying, “Another day in the NBA.” Tatum was also asked why the teams got so few calls from the officials during tonight’s game.

The 5-time All-Star replied, “I don’t know. Maybe just gearing up for the playoffs, they’re gonna let a lot of things go.” What he could have meant was the officials could be preparing the teams for post-season basketball as those games tend to be more physical and have far fewer fouls called than the regular season. The first round of the playoffs will begin on April 20, right after the completion of the play-in tournament.

What led to Boston’s loss against Milwaukee?

Getting 0 free-throw attempts for the entire game played a huge role in the Celtics’ loss tonight. But another major reason they fell against Milwaukee was because they were extremely shorthanded. Boston was missing their two elite Centers, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Porzingis got ruled out tonight due to hamstring injury management, and Horford missed the game due to a toe injury. Their absence left a huge void in Boston’s defense against Milwaukee’s Big Man lineup. Giannis, Portis, Lopez, and Middleton feasted inside the paint, combining for 57 points.

Jayson Tatum was also not at 100% following his return from injury. Tatum missed Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a right knee contusion. He finished with 22 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds tonight. Every other Celtics player struggled from the field. Tonight’s loss is inconsequential for the Celtics in the long run because they have already bagged the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They are 14 wins ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and will face the 8th seed in the first round of the playoffs. And it might be a good thing for Jayson Tatum and Co. that they got a taste of tough playoff basketball before heading into the postseason.

When healthy, the Boston Celtics are arguably the best team in the NBA. They have a star-studded starting lineup with a deep bench that can prove crucial in the playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Co. also have vast playoff experience, having gone to the NBA Finals once and the Eastern Conference Finals multiple times. This might be the year the Celtics finally get over the hump and win the long-awaited Championship.

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