Trending Now - Celtics' Tough Loss Highlights Ongoing Debate on Foul Baiting
WHO:
Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Stephon Castle
Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Lu Dort, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
WHAT:
Jaylen Brown attempted 14 free throws in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, tied for his third-highest total of the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and extended his 20-point streak to 127 games, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record.
Gilgeous-Alexander ranks third in the league in free throw attempts with 9.2 per game, while Brown ranks 15th with 7.1 free throw attempts per game.
Brown stated, "I felt like I was ready to have a big-time performance, and my night got cut short."
The Boston Celtics lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 104-102.
Jaylen Brown scored 34 points, had six rebounds, and seven assists.
Sam Hauser was called for a loose-ball foul with 0.8 seconds left in the game.
Chet Holmgren made both free throws after the foul call.
Payton Pritchard's game-winning three-point attempt fell short.
WHERE:
The game took place in Oklahoma City.
WHEN:
The game occurred on March 12th, 2026.
The foul was called with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation.
WHY:
Brown criticized the trend of "foul baiting" in the NBA, stating, "I just don't think it's basketball. Let's just play basketball."
The Celtics were missing key players due to injuries, including Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.
Fans expressed anger over the officiating, believing the foul call was unjust.
HOW:
Brown described foul baiting as "accentuating contact" and mentioned that players are rewarded for "flailing your body into [a defender] just to make it look like you're getting fouled."
The Celtics' defense forced Alex Caruso to take the game-winning shot instead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Celtics utilized depth players like Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza due to the absence of starters.
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 21:08 UTC)
In a thrilling matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, extending his incredible 20-point streak to 127 games, which breaks Wilt Chamberlain's long-standing record. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown attempted 14 free throws, tying for his third-highest total of the season, but expressed frustration over the trend of "foul baiting" in the NBA, saying, "I just don't think it's basketball." Brown criticized the practice of exaggerating contact to draw fouls, emphasizing that players should focus on playing the game rather than trying to manipulate the rules.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 19:19 UTC)
In a closely contested game on March 12, the Boston Celtics fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 104 to 102. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with an impressive 34 points, but a late foul called on Sam Hauser with just 0.8 seconds left allowed Chet Holmgren to seal the victory with two made free throws. Despite missing key players like Jayson Tatum and Derrick White due to injuries, the Celtics fought hard, but Payton Pritchard's last-second three-point attempt came up short, leaving fans frustrated with the officiating.