Here’s a phrase that you haven’t heard since Halloween weekend … the Detroit Pistons have won a basketball game.
Detroit ended its historic 28-game losing streak on Saturday, toppling the Toronto Raptors 129-127. Cade Cunningham dropped 30 points and 12 assists to deliver the franchise its first victory since October 28. The Pistons’ two-month run of futility set an NBA record for most consecutive losses in a single season and tied the 2014-15/2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers for most consecutive losses overall in league history. Another loss would’ve tied them with the 1942-45 Chicago Cardinals for the longest losing streak in American professional sports history.
Here are some facts to put into perspective how long this losing streak lasted for the Pistons:
- The 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers have still won more games than the Pistons since October 28.
- The entire NBA In-Season Tournament was played.
- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was still active on October 28 and was one day away from suffering a season-ending Achilles tear.
- Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was still the Heisman Trophy favorite.
Detroit nearly went the entire holiday season without a single victory, with its next game being a showdown at Houston on New Year’s Day. Now that its finally over, we’ll see if Cunningham and company can gradually begin to turn their season around.