With 28th straight loss, Pistons tie NBA’s longest losing streak of all-time. When might this slide end? – CBS Sports
The NBA record for most consecutive losses in a single season has officially been broken and then some. The Detroit Pistons ran their historic losing streak to 28 games with a 128-122 overtime loss to the Celtics in Boston Thursday night. With 28 straight defeats, the Pistons are now tied with the 76ers for the NBA’s all-time record of consecutive losses. Unfortunately for Detroit, it compiled such an ignominious record in one season as the Sixers compiled their losses on either side of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.
Tuesday’s loss against the Nets passed the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers and 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers for most consecutive losses in one season.
This season, the Pistons have the league’s worst record at 2-29. 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 |
|
28 |
Detroit Pistons |
Oct. 30, 2023 |
? |
|
26 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
Jan. 31, 2014 |
March 29, 2014 |
|
26 |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
Dec. 20, 2010 |
Feb. 11, 2011 |
|
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 2-29, every opponent might seem like the 2015-16 Warriors. The Pistons have had multiple chances to snap their streak, having faced several teams coming off back-to-backs as well as leading by as much as 21 on Thursday against the Celtics. Moving forward, Detroit has an end of the year matchup against the Raptors for sole possession of a record that no club wants to own on the line. It represents one final chance for the Pistons to end the 2023 year on a high note and begin 2024 with a clean slate.
Pistons’ upcoming schedule
- Saturday, Dec. 30 vs. Raptors
- Monday, Jan. 1 at Rockets
- Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Jazz
