
Shutouts are rare in basketball, with fewer than two dozen recorded at any level since 1907. In basketball, a shutout occurs when a team fails to score any points during a game. While shutouts are uncommon, there have been several notable instances, including a 102-0 blowout in a Montana high school basketball game in 2017. In another instance, Tennessee beat Temple 11-6 in 1973, which may be considered the closest shutout in a modern game. While the concept of a shutout is more commonly associated with sports like baseball and ice hockey, where individual players can be credited with shutouts, it is still a noteworthy occurrence in basketball, albeit extremely rare.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possibility of a shutout in basketball | Very low |
| Lowest score in a game in the shot-clock era | 20 |
| Lowest score in a half | 4 |
| Score of the closest shutout in a "modern" game | 11-6 |
| Year of the closest shutout in a "modern" game | 1973 |
| Score of the largest blowout in basketball | 102-0 |
| Sport with frequent shutouts | Ice hockey |
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What You'll Learn

Shutouts are rare in basketball
Shutouts are uncommon in basketball, with fewer than 24 recorded at any level since 1907. This is partly due to the introduction of the shot clock, which makes it extremely difficult for a team to prevent their opponents from scoring for an entire game.
In basketball, a shutout occurs when a team stops their opponents from scoring any points during a game. While shutouts are rare in basketball, they are more common in other sports such as American football, ice hockey, and baseball. In American football, for example, there have been several instances of teams being shut out throughout an entire season. The 1933 Providence Huskies did not concede a single point during their ten-game perfect season. In ice hockey, a shutout is credited to a goaltender who successfully prevents the opposing team from scoring during the entire game. In baseball, a shutout occurs when a single pitcher pitches a complete game without allowing the opposing team to score a run.
One notable example of a near-shutout in basketball occurred in 1973 when Tennessee beat Temple 11-6. This was likely the only time that fans of the team ahead in a close game decided to leave before the third quarter. Another example of a low-scoring game in the shot-clock era is a 49-20 victory, with the lowest score in a half being 4 points.
While complete shutouts are rare in basketball, there have been some lopsided scores at the high school level. For example, in Montana, there was a 102-0 basketball game between Brockton and Froid-Medicine Hat. However, this was not a true shutout as the Brockton team managed to score. The tallest member of their team was 5-foot-7, while their opponents had three players over 6 feet tall. Additionally, the Brockton players were less experienced, with some just starting to learn the sport.
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The closest modern-game shutout
Shutouts are rare in basketball, with fewer than two dozen recorded at any level since 1907. The closest thing to a modern-game shutout occurred in 1973 when Tennessee beat Temple 11-6. This was probably the only time that fans of the team that was ahead in a close game decided to leave before the third quarter.
Another close shutout occurred in 2013, when a team scored 16 points in a D1 game. However, it should be noted that this was a D1 team playing against a tiny non-NCAA college.
In 1907-08, Wake Forest defeated Littleton High by a score of 63-0, but it is unclear whether this is considered a modern game.
More recently, in 2017, there was a high school basketball game in Montana that resulted in a 102-0 shutout. While this may not be considered a modern-game shutout, it demonstrates that shutouts can still occur in basketball, albeit rarely.
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The lowest-scoring basketball games
While there has never been a shutout in basketball, there have been some low-scoring games throughout the history of the NBA. The game between the Detroit Pistons and the Lakers is one such example, with the Pistons' top scorer, John Oldham, scoring only five points. The Lakers won that game 18-13.
Another low-scoring game occurred on November 30, 1946, between the Washington Capitols and Pittsburgh Ironmen. The Capitols won 49-40, with Pittsburgh's players failing to score in double digits.
The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks played a low-scoring game on January 25, 1947, with the Celtics winning 52-46. This game highlighted the extreme difference in eras for the NBA in terms of scoring.
In the early days of the NBA, teams averaged around 80 points per game. The introduction of the 24-second shot clock in the 1954-55 season aimed to increase scoring and create a more entertaining experience for fans.
Outside of the NBA, the lowest-scoring men's DI college basketball game occurred on December 15, 1973, when Tennessee beat Temple 11-6.
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Shutout in baseball
In basketball, a shutout is an extremely rare occurrence. There have been less than two dozen shutouts at any level since 1907. The closest shutout in a "modern" game was in 1973, when Tennessee beat Temple 11-6. In 1907-08, Wake Forest defeated Littleton High by a score of 63-0, which could be considered a shutout. More recently, in 2017, there was a high school basketball game in Montana that resulted in a 102-0 shutout. While this may be considered a blowout, it is important to note that the losing team consisted of an eighth-grader, a freshman who hadn't played basketball since sixth grade, and three sophomores, one of whom was new to the sport. These players showed determination and sportsmanship despite the lopsided score.
Now, shifting our focus to the concept of a shutout in baseball, a sport with a long and rich history, the term "shutout" takes on a slightly different meaning. In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the impressive feat of a single pitcher throwing a complete game without conceding a single run to the opposing team. This achievement is denoted statistically as ShO or SHO. It is worth noting that if two or more pitchers combine to achieve this, no individual pitcher will be awarded a shutout, although the team itself can be said to have "shut out" their opponents.
The all-time leader in career shutouts is the legendary Walter Johnson, who pitched for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927 and amassed an incredible 110 shutouts. This achievement is made even more remarkable when compared to the second-placed pitcher, Grover Cleveland Alexander, who accumulated 90 shutouts. The most shutouts recorded in a single season is 16, a feat accomplished by both Grover Alexander in 1916 and George Bradley in 1876, showcasing the rarity and difficulty of achieving shutouts consistently.
In the modern era of baseball, shutouts have become less common due to several factors. Pitch count and relief pitching strategies have evolved, resulting in pitchers rarely earning more than one or two shutouts per season. Complete games by starting pitchers have also become a rarity. As of 2021, the active leader in shutouts is Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with 15 shutouts, demonstrating the decreasing frequency of shutouts in the modern game.
In conclusion, while shutouts in basketball are extremely rare, they have occurred on occasion, with less than two dozen recorded instances since 1907. On the other hand, in baseball, a shutout specifically refers to a pitcher's ability to prevent the opposing team from scoring, and it is a highly valued achievement in the sport. The all-time leaders in career shutouts, like Walter Johnson, are considered icons in the world of baseball, with their records serving as a testament to their dominance on the pitcher's mound.
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Shutout in ice hockey
In ice hockey, a shutout is a term used to describe the outcome of a game in which one team fails to score a single goal. It is awarded to a goaltender who successfully prevents the opposing team from scoring during the entire game. If a shutout is achieved by a team using more than one goaltender, the shutout is credited to the team, and no individual goaltender is awarded the shutout. This has happened several times in National Hockey League (NHL) history. For instance, on April 3, 1983, the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers with Al Jensen and Pat Riggin in goal.
The record holder for the most regular-season career shutouts in the NHL is a topic of debate. While some sources claim that Martin Brodeur holds the record with 125 shutouts, others state that Terry Sawchuk holds the record with 103 shutouts. The Columbus Blue Jackets hold the modern-day record for a team being shut out in a season, with 16 shutouts during the 2006-2007 season.
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to a single pitcher pitching a complete game without allowing the opposing team to score a run. If a pitcher enters the game before the opposing team scores a run and completes the game without conceding a run, they are awarded a shutout, although not a complete game. The all-time leader in shutouts is Walter Johnson, who pitched for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927 and accumulated 110 shutouts.
In American football, a shutout occurs when a team is prevented from scoring during an entire season. The Providence Huskies achieved the longest shutout season in 1933, going ten games without conceding a single point. In college football, the Tennessee Volunteers hold the record for most consecutive shutout wins with 17, spanning from November 30, 1938, to October 19, 1940.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there have been shutouts in basketball, although they are rare. In 2017, there was a 102-0 basketball shutout in Montana.
A shutout is when a team does not score any points in a game.
In 1907-08, Wake Forest defeated Littleton High by a score of 63-0.
Yes, shutouts are common in other sports such as baseball, ice hockey, and American football.
The closest shutout in a "modern" college basketball game was in 1973 when Tennessee beat Temple 11-6.










