The Detroit Pistons (2-28) made unwanted history by suffering their 27th consecutive loss, setting a new NBA single-season record, as they fell 118-112 to the Brooklyn Nets (15-15).
Despite Cade Cunningham’s remarkable 41-point performance, the Pistons surpassed the previous record held by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers still hold the overall longest losing streak at 28, spanning two seasons.
“A lot of this load is trusted to me, on the court and in the locker room,” Cunningham said. “Every day, I try to lead the squad, and I haven’t been successful at that — 2-28. It’s only right that I speak for it and be the face of it.”
Cunningham, who scored 37 points in the second half and shot 15-21 overall, expressed his responsibility for the team’s performance, both on the court and in the locker room. Bojan Bogdanovic was the only other Pistons player to score over 15 points, with the rest of the team struggling with a shooting percentage of 36.2%, including a mere 28.6% from beyond the arc.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
Pistons coach Monty Williams acknowledged the difficult situation, emphasizing that it reflects on his coaching record and that the team needs to be realistic about their current position.
“You have to be real about where we are,” Williams said. “Nobody wants something like this attached to them; the bottom line is it is my job. Coaches are graded on their records.”
The Nets’ victory was fueled by Cam Johnson’s 24 points and Mikal Bridges’ 21, alongside double-doubles from Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn admitted to feeling uneasy about the game, knowing the challenge of facing the same team consecutively.
“I didn’t sleep very well last night, anticipating how tough this game was going to be,” Vaughn said. “Any time you play a team back-to-back like that, it is really tough to (win).”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The game saw a late surge by the Pistons, with Cunningham leading a comeback attempt. However, crucial three-pointers by Dorian Finney-Smith and Johnson helped secure the Nets’ win despite chants from the crowd urging the Pistons’ ownership to sell the team.
“We had a little bit of execution and composure down the stretch,” Johnson said. “It didn’t always go our way, but we were able to pull it out.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets had initially trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter but responded strongly. Cunningham’s impressive scoring kept Detroit close, but turnovers and a lackluster second quarter ultimately cost them the game.
“To have a start like that and then kind of let it go in the second quarter — that’s the quarter that put us in the hole,” Williams said. “I think we had six turnovers in the second quarter. That’s something that has plagued us all year long.”
The Brooklyn Nets are set to host the Milwaukee Bucks next, while the Pistons will face the Boston Celtics, as both teams look to their upcoming challenges.
