The Detroit Pistons etched their names in the NBA record books on Friday night, though certainly not in the way the franchise hoped. With a 126-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Pistons have now dropped 26 consecutive games this season, tying the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 2021-22 Houston Rockets for the longest single-season losing streak in league history.
Losing Streak Caps Disastrous Season So Far
The Pistons entered the 2022-23 season with some optimism after selecting Jaden Ivey with the 5th overall pick to pair with last year’s first overall selection, Cade Cunningham. However, injuries have ravaged the young Detroit squad, and they have been unable to dig themselves out of an early hole.
As the losses have piled up, fans have grown increasingly impatient with the direction of the franchise under owner Tom Gores. Chants of “sell the team” rang out at Little Caesars Arena during the team’s 25th straight loss on December 21st to the Utah Jazz. Gores addressed the unrest after last night’s loss to Brooklyn.
“I hear the fans and I feel their pain,” Gores said. “No one is more passionate than me to get this right.”
Gores acknowledged that changes would be coming but said it was too early to make definitive declarations.
The losing streak has taken on a life of its own in recent weeks, with each loss bringing the franchise closer to ignominious history. Here is a look back at how the streak developed:
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| October 31 | Atlanta Hawks | L 130-131 |
| November 2 | Atlanta Hawks | L 113-118 |
| November 4 | New York Knicks | L 108-130 |
| November 9 | Denver Nuggets | L 110-110 |
| November 11 | New York Knicks | L 111-121 |
| November 13 | Boston Celtics | L 102-128 |
| November 15 | Miami Heat | L 85-116 |
| November 18 | New York Knicks | L 104-121 |
| November 20 | Sacramento Kings | L 109-137 |
| November 25 | San Antonio Spurs | L 115-121 |
| November 28 | Oklahoma City Thunder | L 112-114 |
| November 30 | Dallas Mavericks | L 131-140 |
| December 2 | Phoenix Suns | L 108-114 |
| December 4 | Memphis Grizzlies | L 112-122 |
| December 7 | Dallas Mavericks | L 131-140 |
| December 9 | Memphis Grizzlies | L 114-122 |
| December 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-128 |
| December 13 | Miami Heat | L 96-116 |
| December 15 | Charlotte Hornets | L 141-167 |
| December 16 | Minnesota Timberwolves | L 104-118 |
| December 18 | Los Angeles Clippers | L 117-142 |
| December 21 | Utah Jazz | L 111-119 |
| December 23 | Brooklyn Nets | L 115-126 |
What’s Next for Detroit?
As the Pistons look to snap their skid, the schedule provides little relief. Eight of their next nine games come against teams over .500, starting with Tuesday’s home tilt against the San Antonio Spurs.
Detroit’s best chance at a win in the near future likely comes on January 4th at home against the Orlando Magic. However, Orlando beat the Pistons by 16 points on December 28th, Detroit’s 18th straight loss.
Barring an unexpected upset, the Pistons seem destined to stand alone with the longest single-season losing streak before they taste victory again. What comes after that remains a mystery. Will coach Dwane Casey be fired? Will more drastic roster changes follow? At the very least, Detroit seems poised to land a high lottery pick that they desperately need.
For now, the players insist they are not losing faith despite the never-ending barrage of defeats. But history keeps piling up, and the target on Detroit’s back grows larger by the day. Simply avoiding infamy seemed a reasonable goal for this young team, but now they are part of the wrong kind of legacy that will follow this franchise for years to come.
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