The contest with the fewest combined points in National Basketball Association history refers to the game between the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers on November 22, 1950. The final score was 19-18 in favor of Fort Wayne. This outcome represents an extreme example of deliberate stalling tactics employed in the early era of the sport.
The significance of this particular instance lies in its impact on the evolution of basketball rules and strategy. The extraordinarily low score and the perceived lack of entertainment prompted the league to implement measures designed to increase scoring and make the game more appealing to fans. The introduction of the 24-second shot clock in 1954 was a direct consequence of games similar to, although not always as extreme as, this one. The adoption of such a device fundamentally altered the pace and style of play in professional basketball.
