The Detroit Pistons avoided another dance in NBA history on Saturday by defeating the Toronto Raptors 129-127 at Little Caesars Arena, ending a 28-game losing streak that matched the league's all-time record loss.
Pistons coach Monty Williams said after the win: “There was definitely a feeling of relief.” “But there wasn't the proverbial exhale. We know we still have a lot of basketball ahead of us,” he added.
Star guard Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 30 points and 12 assists in the contest, while center Jalen Duren posted a double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Raptors forward Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 35 points. The Raptors were without forward OG Anunoby, whom Toronto traded to the New York Knicks before Saturday's game.
The Pistons blew a 19-point halftime lead in a 128-122 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, tying the record set by the Philadelphia 76ers, who dropped 28 straight points between the end of the 2014-15 season and the start of the 2015-16 season.
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Where does the Pistons' losing streak rank in sports history?
Prior to the win over Toronto, the Pistons (3-29) last won a game on Oct. 28, defeating the Chicago Bulls 118-102 in the third game of the season. The win gave Williams, who signed a six-year contract worth nearly $100 million this offseason, his only winning record against Detroit – improving to 2-1.
How the Pistons ended their streak
For the first time in a long time, Detroit was solid for 48 minutes. It won three of four quarters and lost the third quarter by just four points. The Pistons made over 85 percent of their 25-plus free throw attempts, which hasn't been the case often in recent weeks. Detroit fell far short of its season average of 17 turnovers. The Pistons were steady and never had a disastrous period throughout the game, and it paid off in the form of a win. — James L. Edwards III, Pistons beat writer
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Meaning of victory
With the weight of the losing streak lifted from the Pistons' shoulders, Detroit has a chance to avoid being affected by this historic skid. The Pistons have been playing better basketball of late despite the results and are about to embark on a trip to the West Coast that could be tougher. The Orlando Magic started last season with a 5-20 record and finished the year with over 30 wins. The Pistons need to start building momentum for next season. – Edwards
Could this be a reason for optimism?
I don't know much about optimism, but taking the weight off their shoulders could help the Pistons win a basketball game more often than just every two months. The stress of the next defeat not being a historical note will certainly make everyone breathe a little easier. I don't think Detroit will turn around and make a postseason run or anything, but I could see the Pistons getting a win or two in the next two weeks just because they've taken the stress off. – Edwards
Required reading
(Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)