Detroit Pistons break NBA record with 27th straight loss
The Detroit Pistons faced a challenging night on Tuesday, losing their 27th consecutive game to the Brooklyn Nets with a score of 118-112 at Little Caesars Arena. This ongoing losing streak is a tough situation for Pistons fans to endure.
In a surprising turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers have established a new record for the most consecutive losses in one NBA season. During the 2014-2015 season, the team experienced a challenging streak, enduring 18 consecutive losses. This noteworthy achievement, although not cause for celebration, stands as a unique moment in NBA history. Fans and analysts alike are discussing this remarkable, albeit difficult, feat for the 76ers.
In unfortunate news for Detroit, the team hasn’t tasted victory since their home opener on October 28 against Chicago. Currently standing at a tough 2 wins and 28 losses for the season, it’s been a challenging stretch for the team. Fans are eagerly anticipating a turnaround in their future games.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Pistons coach Monty Williams addressed the team’s struggle to avoid the all-time losing record. He expressed his desire not to be associated with it, emphasizing the significant concern it poses for the franchise. The weight of this record is evident as the team grapples with its challenges.
Coach Williams addressed the team’s record, noting, “When you see records, you usually think about coaches, but players don’t want that linked to their jersey names.” He acknowledged that the weight of the situation has been persistent due to the ongoing losing streak. Williams emphasized the team’s need to make changes to break the pattern and improve.
Cade Cunningham, the top pick in 2021, had an outstanding game scoring 41 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and making 5 assists. Interestingly, despite his impressive individual performance, he has a unique stat—he hasn’t won any of the 10 games where he scored 30 or more points. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, this sets the record for the longest streak at the beginning of an NBA career.
After the game, Cunningham addressed the team passionately in the locker room about fixing the issues. He urged teammates not to lose hope and emphasized the importance of “staying together” despite the increasing number of losses.
Cunningham stated, “I don’t think what I said was positivity, I think it’s just being real … there’s nothing positive about this situation right now that we put ourselves in, so that’s why we have to dig deep and get ourselves out of it.” He acknowledged the heavy burden the losing streak puts on the team, saying, “You can’t get away from it. It weighs on us every day, I mean everywhere. It weighs on us.”
The Pistons had a strong start, securing a 14-point lead in the first quarter, marking their first double-digit lead since November 12 against the Bulls. However, they faced challenges in the second quarter, committing six turnovers and trailing 61-54 at halftime.
During the game, the Pistons faced a deficit of 71-60 in the third quarter, but they staged a comeback, entering the fourth quarter only three points behind. Fans enthusiastically cheered with “Let’s go Pistons!” chants, especially when Cunningham made a crucial three-pointer, giving Detroit a 97-92 lead at 8:10.
Despite the promising moment, the Nets closed the game with a strong 26-15 run, leaving a mark in the history books for the 2023-24 Pistons. Towards the end, some fans expressed their dissatisfaction, chanting “Sell the team! Sell the team!” However, it’s worth noting that Pistons owner Tom Gores was not present to hear these chants.
Some players were unhappy with the crowd chants. Jaden Ivey, a second-year guard with 9 points and 4 assists, said, “We have the right people in this locker room, and I heard fans talking about selling the team. It made me wonder, who is really with us? The crowd was great, but chanting ‘sell the team’ was a bit much. We’re growing, and people expected us to be better, but we’ll keep going, forget what others say, stick together, and play for each other.”