The Pistons' record-breaking losing streak breaks the previous records of the 76ers and Cavaliers
It's official: The Detroit Pistons hold the NBA record for consecutive losses in a single season. Detroit's 118-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night sealed the record, which has stood for 60 days.
The Pistons inherit the single-season record from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11. The team is currently on pace to post a 6-76 record this season, which would break the record for fewest wins in a season in NBA history.
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A lot has happened in the last 60 days. Here are some of the most notable events in the sports world that have taken place since October 28 – the date of the Pistons' last victory, a 118-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Arizona Diamondbacks won a playoff game
These events both occurred on the same day. Game 2 of the World Series between the Diamondbacks and the eventual champion Texas Rangers and the Pistons' victory over the Bulls took place on October 28th.
But the Pistons picked up their second win of the season this Saturday night at 9:10 p.m. ET. Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver's line drive to third base for the bottom of the ninth inning sealed the win for the Diamondbacks at 11:02 p.m. ET on the 28th. Just hours later, the World Series runners-up achieved a more recent victory than the Detroit Pistons.
Josh McDaniels has been fired as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders
Two days after the Pistons' last win, the Las Vegas Raiders went 3-4 on the road against the 6-2 Detroit Lions. The Lions won 26-14, but the result belied a one-sided game in which Detroit defeated Las Vegas 486-157. The Raiders allowed six sacks and managed just 77 net passing yards.
A day later, Las Vegas announced that McDaniels and Dave Ziegler had been fired from their positions as head coach and general manager, respectively. Interim coach Antonio Pierce has led the Raiders to the threshold of the playoffs in the months since.
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Victor Wembanyama played his first regular season game away
A day after the Pistons' last win, Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs headed west to take on the Los Angeles Clippers.
The rookie sensation had a difficult game with just 11 points, five rebounds and a block to go, as well as five turnovers. The Spurs lost 123-83, the second-biggest loss of the season for the worst team in the Western Conference. If it hadn't been for the win over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 15th, the Spurs' losing streak would have been as long as Detroit's.
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James Harden was a Philadelphia 76er
Harden spent most of October arguing with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, demanding a trade to leave Philadelphia.
Three days after the Pistons' last win over the Bulls, Morey finally found a new home for his disgruntled All-Star in Los Angeles. A three-team deal with the Clippers and Thunder with players and several future draft picks brought Harden back into the Western Conference.
In the end, the 76ers received:
Los Angeles received:
Oklahoma City received:
- A 2027 first-round pick from Los Angeles
It's a laundry list, but one that has changed the trajectory of several teams. Harden has since averaged 17.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists with the Clippers. Los Angeles is fourth in the Western Conference as of Wednesday afternoon.