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The Opening Tip
The C’s and Bucks made weird NBA history last night
The best worst play ever has happened
There’s a playoff-level game tonight in the West
Must-watch games
1. The logical end to the crackdown on points
Last night, the Celtics and Bucks combined to shoot two free throws, which is as remarkable and unusual as it may sound.
The Celtics, for their part, shot zero. That had never happened before.
The two free throws is the lowest in any NBA game ever … by nine free throws.
The one made free throw is the lowest in NBA history, too
How? For one, the Celtics, whose lead over Milwaukee for the No. 1 seed shrunk with the loss to 14 games, were clearly half-assing it. They jacked 52 3s, 10 more than their NBA-high average.
But … they also had 41 shots in the paint; Milwaukee added 35 shots in the paint. Only one of those 76 combined paint looks ended in free throw attempts.
So … a lazy mid-April game with a lot of 3s, plus a drastic example of the refs’ recent directive to crack down on scoring/foul hunting = an extreme historic outlier.
Also, you’re telling us this isn’t a foul?
2. Daily GIF: The forbidden alley-oop
The screenshot is even funnier.
3. Trivia
Who is the active leader in career games played without a playoff appearance?
4. The duality of superstar
Nikola Jokic on the showdown with the Timberwolves: “I don’t think it’s a really big game. Yes, we’re going to go out there and play to win the game, of course, but I think people are just making their stories that it’s a big game. Hopefully it’s going to be interesting.”
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind)
5:07 AM • Apr 10, 2024
We’re siding with Ant here. The Wolves and Nuggets, who have the same record with three games left, play tonight in a defacto matchup for the No. 1 seed.
Related: The standings in the West are simply chaotic.
Quick hits
The Grizzlies scored in the end, but watch Wemby break their brains on a 3-on-1.
Giannis’ non-contact injury from last night does not appear to be serious.
Chuck on the Suns: ‘The leaders are not leading. They're weak mentally. They’re just really soft.’
Related: The Suns were down 35-4 at one point last night.
Great news for Wolves fans on KAT’s health.
The Lakers are now +200 to make the playoffs after last night’s loss vs. the Warriors.
The orange Suns fan guy? Turns out he’s bad.
Reads + Pods
50 years later, my First Final Four is still the best [Defector]
An honest scouting report of Bronny James [The Ringer]
The ‘humbling experience’ of trying to shoot over Victor Wembanyama [The Athletic]
That's the buzzer.
Thanks for reading the 374th edition of The Grip.