Pistons slump to record-equalling 26th NBA defeat
Ausar Thompson, #9 of the Detroit Pistons, is helped up by James Wiseman, #13, and Marcus Sasser, #25, during the game against the Utah Jazz on 21 December 2023 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Chris Schwegler / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)
The Detroit Pistons matched an NBA single-season mark for futility on Saturday, slumping to a 26th straight defeat in a 126-115 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn.
As the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game skid behind 40 points from LeBron James and reigning champions Denver and Eastern Conference contenders Boston and Milwaukee posted comfortable victories, the Pistons matched the league's longest single-season losing streak — set by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers.
Detroit, an iconic franchise that won NBA titles in 1989, 1990, and 2004 — hasn't won since 28 October.
Mikal Bridges scored 29 points with six rebounds and seven assists to lead the Nets — who had seven players score in double figures.
Jaden Ivey scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham added 22 for the Pistons, who coughed up 14 turnovers leading to 22 Nets points.
Brooklyn out-scored Detroit 62-42 in the paint and held an 18-9 edge in second-chance points and never trailed after the first quarter.
The Pistons were in the hunt, down by six late in the third quarter, when the Nets put together a 15-0 scoring run to pull away.
Detroit will try to turn the tables when they play the Nets in Brooklyn again on Tuesday, when a defeat would land them with the single-season record — and put them one away from matching the longest losing streak ever, the 28-game slide of the 76ers that spanned the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
Pistons coach Monty Williams said he'd seen some good things from his team, and he praised their continuing determination in the midst of the morale-destroying slide.
"Losing is awful in this league," Williams added. "And we've had a lot of it. I'm proud of the way that they just keep battling every night. Our guys don't want to be a part of any kind of losing streak, whatever. But every day they come back with focus and drive and grit trying to win a game."
In Oklahoma City the Lakers, struggling since capturing the inaugural in-season tournament crown, snapped their four-game losing streak with a 129-120 victory over the Thunder.