The Detroit Pistons now hold an unfavorable record by themselves, but they can yet become better.
The Pistons lost to the Brooklyn Nets 112-118 in Detroit on Tuesday, their 27th straight game, setting an NBA record for the longest losing streak in a single season.
Detroit might soon match the NBA’s all-time record of 28 games lost on a losing streak. The overall record, which was set at the conclusion of the 2014–2015 season and the beginning of the next one, is held by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Guard Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 41 points, but they lost on Tuesday. Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson led the Nets in scoring with 21 and 24 points, respectively.
When asked whether he had any advice for his squad following Tuesday’s game, Cunningham replied, “We’ve got to stay together,” to reporters. “Now more than ever, we need to rely on one another, push one another, and hold each other accountable. It’s the easiest time to stand off and be on your own.”
Tuesday’s fourth-quarter advantage was briefly maintained by the Pistons until they gave it up, and with just a minute remaining, the Nets’ lead was reduced to two thanks to a Cunningham drive. However, Dorian Finney-Smith of the Nets made a 3-pointer from the corner on the following possession, and Brooklyn won the game easily.
The previous one-season record of 26 games lost was shared by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013–2014 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010–2011.
When Detroit plays the Boston Celtics on Thursday, they have the opportunity to tie the NBA record for the longest losing streak—28 games.
The Chicago Bulls were defeated by the Pistons on October 28th, marking their most recent victory. As of right now, the team’s season record is 2-28.
The losing run is disappointing for a team that has made an effort to rebuild through youth the past few seasons, attracting coach Monty Williams to the team with a big contract this year and selecting Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 and Ausar Thompson with the No. 5 pick this year.
Williams was questioned Tuesday night about if the players’ desperation for the winning streak to end caused his team’s nerves to get too tense at the end of recent games.
Is it heavy? In the news conference held on Tuesday following the game, Williams stated, “Yeah, I would imagine for everybody it is.” Nobody desires to have something like this tied to them. It’s probably more on me than anyone else, but I was brought in to change this. The players are giving it their all on the field. I need to move them so they don’t feel constrictive or heavy.
