Chris Schwegler/NBAE/Getty Images
Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons throws the ball during the Toronto Raptors game on December 30 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
CNN –
The Detroit Pistons managed to take sole possession of the longest losing streak in NBA history after ending their 28-game losing streak with a 129-127 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit was on the verge of not only making NBA history, but also repeating the longest losing streak in the history of major American professional sports by the Chicago Cardinals, who lost 29 consecutive games in the NFL between 1942 and 1945.
Saturday's victory was the Pistons' first win since October 28th.
It was a competitive game from the start, but a 14-4 run midway through the second quarter gave the Pistons an eight-point lead at halftime. Similar to Thursday's game against the NBA-best Boston Celtics, Detroit's lead dwindled in the second half after Toronto came back in the third quarter and traded the lead with the Pistons.
However, the Pistons held strong and regained a double-digit lead when Jaden Ivey made a three-pointer, giving them a 110-99 lead with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter. The undermanned Raptors responded with an 8-2 run from Scottie Barnes to get within five points and stay within striking distance.
It looked like the Raptors would end the rally when guard Gary Trent Jr. made a three-pointer with two seconds left to cut the score to 127-129, but the team's comeback narrowly fell short.
Former NBA No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham finished the game with 30 points and 12 assists, while Jalen Duren added 18 points and 17 rebounds to give the Pistons their first win.
“We just kept fighting. “It's been a long, long time – all these losses – but I'm just happy to be part of a group of people who don't give up and do their best every day and still stay positive and lift each other up,” Cunningham said after that Game.
“It's been weighing heavily on us for two months wherever we go, which is unreal… that it's been that long,” Cunningham added. “It's been a long time coming, something we've been pushing for for so long and to finally get over this hurdle, we're not trying to go back. Now it really starts as we see who we are going to be and if we continue to play with the same fire that we played with.”
The Pistons had the advantage of playing against a Raptors team that went on to play without three players The team agreed to trade the star Forward OG Anunoby, guard Malachi Flynn and forward Precious Achiuwa were traded to the New York Knicks on Saturday in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round draft pick.
“I've been in countless locker rooms my whole life and this is the first time I've ever experienced something like this… It wasn't a relief, it was just, thank God, finally.” Monty Williams, head coach of the Detroit Pistons said after the game about the win. “The guys were screaming, I was almost in tears and I'm just so happy for our guys, I'm happy for everyone in the locker room.”
On Thursday, the Pistons lost their 28th straight game after losing to the Celtics to move level with the record-setting Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 28 straight games in two seasons from the 2014-15 season to the 2015-16 season.
The previous record for losing streaks in a single season was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11 and the 76ers, both of whom lost 26 consecutive games in their respective seasons.
The Pistons will play on the road against the Houston Rockets on Monday, looking to win their second straight game.