After tying NBA’s single-season losing streak, what’s next for the Pistons? And when could this record end? – CBS Sports
The NBA record for most consecutive losses could be broken before the end of the month. The Detroit Pistons ran their historic losing streak to 26 games with a 126-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, and are now tied with the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers and 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers for most consecutive losses in one season.
As a result, the all-time mark of 28 straight defeats is just a few games away. That ignominious record currently belongs to the Sixers, who compiled their losses on either side of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.
This season, the Pistons have the league’s worst record at 2-27. While they’ve amassed a talented group of lottery picks in recent years, they’ve struggled to smooth out their offensive struggles. After their most recent home defeat to the Utah Jazz, fans chanted for owner Tom Gores to sell the team. He responded in an interview a few days later by saying the fans’ chants were “ridiculous,” while also making vague promises of change.
Longest losing streaks in NBA history
|
Streak |
Team |
Streak Started |
Streak Ended |
|
28 |
Philadelphia 76ers^ |
March 27, 2015 |
Dec. 1, 2015 |
|
26 |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
Dec. 20, 2010 |
Feb. 11, 2011 |
|
26 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
Jan. 31, 2014 |
March 29, 2014 |
|
26 |
Detroit Pistons |
Oct. 30, 2023 |
? |
|
24 |
Cleveland Cavaliers^ |
March 19, 1982 |
Nov. 10, 1982 |
|
23 |
Vancouver Grizzlies |
Feb. 16, 1996 |
April 3, 1996 |
|
23 |
Dec. 9, 1997 |
Jan. 24, 1998 |
|
|
23 |
Charlotte Bobcats |
March 19, 2012 |
Nov. 2, 2012 |
|
21 |
Detroit Pistons^ |
March 7, 1980 |
Oct. 25, 1980 |
|
20 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
Jan. 9, 1973 |
Feb. 14, 1973 |
|
20 |
March 23, 1985 |
Nov. 12, 1985 |
|
|
20 |
Nov. 13, 1993 |
Dec. 23, 1993 |
|
|
20 |
April 18, 1994 |
Dec. 7, 1994 |
|
|
20 |
Feb. 6, 2021 |
March 22, 2021 |
|
|
19 |
Philadelphia 76ers^ |
March 21, 1972 |
Nov. 11, 1972 |
|
19 |
San Diego Clippers |
March 11, 1982 |
April 15, 1982 |
|
19 |
Los Angeles Clippers |
Dec. 30, 1988 |
Feb. 8, 1989 |
|
19 |
Dallas Mavericks |
Feb. 6, 1993 |
March 17, 1993 |
|
19 |
Vancouver Grizzlies |
Nov. 7, 1995 |
Dec. 15, 1995 |
|
19 |
Oct. 30, 2003 |
Dec. 8, 2003 |
|
|
19 |
New Jersey Nets^ |
April 15, 2009 |
Dec. 4, 2009 |
|
19 |
Memphis Grizzlies |
Jan. 31, 2018 |
March 17, 2018 |
|
18 |
Feb. 24, 1982 |
April 2, 1982 |
|
|
18 |
Jan. 7, 2007 |
Feb. 14, 2007 |
|
|
18 |
March 13, 2011 |
Jan. 1, 2012 |
|
|
18 |
Charlotte Bobcats |
Nov. 26, 2012 |
Dec. 31, 2012 |
|
18 |
New York Knicks |
Jan. 4, 2019 |
Feb. 16, 2019 |
|
18 |
San Antonio Spurs* |
Nov. 5, 2023 |
Dec. 15, 2023 |
(^ Denotes streaks that spanned over two seasons)
(* Denotes streak that happened during 2023-24 season)
(Active streak)
When could the record be broken?
Let’s face it, when you’re 2-27, every opponent might seem like the 2015-16 Warriors. If you’re Detroit, things don’t get much easier from here on out. After being unable to defeat the short-handed Jazz, who were on the second night of a back-to-back, or the Nets, who were on a five-game losing streak and also on a back-to-back, the Pistons will head home for the holidays before hosting the Nets again on Dec. 26. If the Pistons can’t best the Nets in a rematch, they’ll have a date against the 22-6 Celtics on Dec. 28. Should they lose those next two games, they’ll have an end of the year matchup against the Raptors for sole possession of a record that no club wants to own on the line.
Pistons’ upcoming schedule
- Tuesday, Dec. 26 vs. Nets
- Thursday, Dec 28 @ Celtics
- Saturday, Dec. 30 vs. Raptors
