What is the longest losing streak in NBA history? Pistons, Spurs closing in on single-season record – Sporting News
With every consecutive loss, the 2023-24 Pistons are one step closer to NBA infamy.
Detroit owns the NBA’s worst record, standing at 2-22 after losing 21 consecutive games. Its last win came during the opening week of the new season all the way back on Oct. 28.
Since then, the Pistons went winless in November and their losing streak has carried into December. They aren’t quite at the mark of the worst losing streak in NBA history, but they’re getting close.
And they’re not alone, either.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs haven’t enjoyed much success early on in the rookie’s career. San Antonio, 3-20, is only a game and a half ahead of Detroit for the worst record in the NBA. The Spurs are currently riding an 18-game losing streak and haven’t won since Nov. 2.
How close are these teams to landing on the wrong side of NBA history? The Sporting News takes a look at the longest losing streaks of all time below.
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What is the longest losing streak in NBA history?
The Pistons’ 21-game losing streak is only the sixth of its kind in NBA history and it is the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history.
Detroit is still a handful of losses away from the NBA’s all-time losing streak record. That (dis)honor belongs to “The Process” 76ers, who lost 28 games spanning from the 2014-15 season to the 2015-16 season.
The longest single-season losing streak is 26 games, which belongs to the 2013-14 76ers and 2010-11 Cavaliers, Cleveland’s first season after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach.
Here are the worst losing streaks in NBA history:
| Rank | Team | Year | Losing streak |
| 1 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2015* | 28 |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2010-11 | 26 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2014 | 26 | |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1982* | 24 |
| 5 | Charlotte Bobcats | 2012 | 23 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1997-98 | 23 | |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 1996 | 23 | |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 2023 | 21 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1980* | 21 | |
| 10 | Houston Rockets | 2021 | 20 |
| LA Clippers | 1994* | 20 | |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1993 | 20 | |
| New York Knicks | 1985* | 20 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1973 | 20 |
*Span of two seasons
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Pistons upcoming schedule 2023
Unfortunately for Detroit, its schedule doesn’t exactly let up as it gets closer to infamy.
The Pistons’ next opportunity to snap their losing streak will be on Dec. 15 against Joel Embiid and the 76ers. They will then take on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back.
Detroit’s next matchup against a team under .500 doesn’t come until Dec. 18. It could be riding a 23-game losing streak at that point.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 15 | at 76ers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 16 | at Bucks | 6 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 18 | at Hawks | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 21 | vs. Jazz | 7 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 23 | at Nets | 7:30 p.m. | — |
Spurs upcoming schedule 2023
The Spurs’ upcoming schedule isn’t much more forgiving than the Pistons.
San Antonio will face LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the In-Season Tournament-champion Lakers again on Dec. 15. It has a matchup with Zion Williamson and the Pelicans on Dec. 17 and a tough meeting with Antetokounmpo, Lillard and the Bucks on Dec. 19.
WATCH: Lakers vs. Spurs on Sling TV
The Spurs’ next game against a team under .500 doesn’t come until Dec. 21. They could be on a 21-game losing streak at that point.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 15 | vs. Lakers | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 17 | vs. Pelicans | 3:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 19 | at Bucks | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 21 | at Bulls | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 23 | at Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. | — |
