The Celtics suffered a tough 119-115 loss to the Wolves on Saturday night and a lack of production at the free throw line was part of the reason why yet again.
Boston ranks last in the NBA in free throw rate and mustered just 15 total on Saturday night en route to the four-point defeat. When one reporter in Minnesota questioned Joe Mazzulla after the game about the physicality in the contest, the Celtics coach got creative with his response, particularly when addressing a missed foul call on Donte DiVincenzo against Derrick White.
“It was first and 10 and one of their guys had a great tackle on Derrick White on the sideline, a tackle for a loss,” Mazzulla told reporters in Minnesota via NBC Sports Boston. “That was really good by them, so our offensive line’s gotta do a better job winning in the trenches.”
Jaylen Brown was more direct with his concerns about the officiating after the loss.
“I don’t understand,” Brown said Saturday night. “As a team, I think we’re last in free throw attempts. Even me personally, I’m one of the more aggressive downhill players in the league. Night to night it’s the same thing. I don’t get it. Tonight I shoot four free throws and I’m aggressive the whole game. I’m watching around the league, guys get certain calls and things like that. It is what it is.”
Brown’s free throw rate has remained steady from last season despite getting more aggressive with his moves to the rim. Brown is averaging a team-high 6.3 free throw attempts per game but no one else on the Celtics roster are averaging three free throw attempts per game.
Despite these struggles, Boston still has the fifth most efficient offense in the NBA this year. They will look to turn the tide on the free throw front when they face off against the Cavaliers on Sunday night in Cleveland.