The Pistons are on the verge of making the wrong kind of history after losing their 25th consecutive game on Thursday vs. Utah.
Last night’s matchup looked like a prime opportunity for Detroit to snap its lengthy winless streak, which began way back in October. The team was playing at home against a shorthanded Jazz squad that was missing top scorers Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson and point guards Keyonte George and Talen Horton-Tucker, among others. But the Jazz – who got a season-high 27 points from Kelly Olynyk and at least 13 from all five starters – pulled out the victory.
The Pistons are now nearing two ignominious NBA records. Losing a 26th game in a row on Saturday would put them in a tie for the longest single-season losing streak in league history. If they lose three more in a row, they’d tie the record for the longest total losing streak (including across multiple seasons): 28 games. A total of four more consecutive losses would put them in sole position of both records.
Over the course of the 25-game losing streak, there haven’t even been many close calls for the Pistons — they haven’t lost by five points or fewer since November 20, and they only have two such losses during the entire streak. The other 23 losses have been by at least six points, and many have been far more one-sided than that.
Detroit has been the NBA’s worst three-point shooting team this season, ranking dead last in makes per game (9.7) and percentage (33.0%). Protecting the ball on offense and taking it away on defense have also been major issues. The Pistons’ 16.6 turnovers per game rank 29th in the NBA, as do their 6.3 steals per night. On top of that, no team commits more fouls per game (22.8) than Detroit.
Put it all together and it’s perhaps no surprise that Cade Cunningham‘s assertion on Thursday that there’s “no way” the Pistons are “2-26 bad” elicited eye-rolls from many fans. But he might have a point — the team’s -11.4 net rating is in the same ballpark as that of the 7-19 Hornets (-10.8) and it’s actually ahead of the mark that the 4-23 Spurs have posted (-11.6).
Still, it’s safe to assume that the Pistons aren’t going to enter a game as a betting favorite until perhaps January 10 at home vs. San Antonio, so if they’re going to avoid setting a new NBA record for futility, they’re going to have to pull off an upset.
Here’s the Pistons’ upcoming slate:
- Dec. 23: at Brooklyn
- Dec. 26: vs. Brooklyn
- Dec. 28: at Boston
- Dec. 30: vs. Toronto
- Jan. 1: at Houston
- Jan. 3: at Utah
- Jan. 5: at Golden State
- Jan. 7: at Denver
- Jan. 9: vs. Sacramento
- Jan. 10: vs. San Antonio
- Jan. 12: vs. Houston
- Jan. 15: at Washington
We want to know what you think. Will the Pistons win one of those games against the Nets to avoid setting the NBA record for most consecutive losses in a single season? Will they win at least one of the next four and avoid entering the history brooks for the longest NBA losing streak of any kind? If not, when exactly is this streak going to end?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
This is a serious sports rumors website guys just don’t talk about dv or Covid
Quit yapping
Would be exactly the type of lose the Celtics have. They love to no show in situations like this.
NEVER!!!
Apologies to Pistons fans but this is one of the funniest polls ever on Hoopsrumors.
Utah or Washington. No good team wants to be the one to give them a win.
“Making the wrong kind of history” is a great line, reminds me of that Larry David crypto commercial (Klay Thompson not laughing…). Also sounds like something you’d say after making a particularly stinky turd.
Hope Pistons get a win soon though, these kinds of stories are depressing.
Have they released next season’s schedule, I’d like to see who they play their first game?