Detroit Pistons Inch Closer to NBA Single-Season Losing Streak Record

 

In a game that underscored the Detroit Pistons' struggles, the Utah Jazz emerged victorious with a 119-111 win on Thursday night. The Pistons' woes continue as they suffered their 25th consecutive loss, coming perilously close to tying the NBA single-season record of 26 shared by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers. The all-time record is held by the 76ers, who endured a 28-game losing streak spanning the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Kelly Olynyk led the way for the short-handed Jazz with an impressive 25-point performance. Utah played without four key contributors – Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George, and Talen Horton-Tucker. Despite missing significant players, the Jazz secured a hard-fought victory on the second night of a back-to-back after a loss to Cleveland.

Pistons' first-year coach Monty Williams expressed his frustration after the game, emphasizing the team's struggles in turnovers and rebounds. The Pistons now hold a challenging 2-26 record, with fans expressing their discontent by chanting "Sell the team! Sell the team!" as a message to owner Tom Gores and his Platinum Equity firm.

Cade Cunningham, the Pistons' standout, acknowledged the team's tough situation but remained optimistic about the future, stating, "We're not 2-26 bad — no way are we that bad. I think we can turn this around. We can play a much better brand of basketball."

Utah coach Will Hardy commended his team for a "really, really good team win" despite missing key players. Collin Sexton contributed 19 points, and Ochai Agbaji added 18 for the Jazz.

In the fourth quarter, Utah capitalized on Detroit's poor shooting, securing a 100-93 lead with 7:40 remaining. Detroit struggled from beyond the arc, going 1-for-10 on 3-point attempts in the final quarter. Despite a late push, the Pistons fell short, and the Jazz sealed the victory with a final score of 119-111.

Cunningham reflected on the historic losing streak, stating, "This is history no one wants to be a part of." The Pistons will look to break their streak in their next game against Brooklyn on Saturday night.