Detroit Pistons Extend Losing Streak to 20 Games in a Row

Posted on: December 13, 2023, 09:07h. 

Last updated on: December 16, 2023, 11:06h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

The desperate Detroit Pistons (2-21) will attempt to end a 20-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (15-7) on Wednesday night.

Detroit Pistons Monty Williams Cade Cunningham losing streak
Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams and point guard Cade Cunningham attempt to stay focused amidst a franchise-low 20-game losing streak. (Image: Getty)

The Pistons have a home-and-away “duplex” series against the 76ers, with two games against each other in three days. The 76ers host the Pistons in Philadelphia on Friday.

The 76ers have won three games in a row and are looking to extend their winning streak against the struggling Pistons.

The 76ers hold multiple NBA records for losing streaks. They set the single-season record with 26 consecutive losses in 2013-14. They also hold the overall longest losing streak in NBA history with 28 losses that spanned two seasons. Their epic slide began at the end of the 2015-16 season and continued through the start of the 2016-17 season.

Pistons Try to Stay Positive

The Pistons lost a shootout, 131-123, against the high-scoring Indiana Pacers on Monday night. The Pistons have the third-lowest offense in the NBA, averaging 108.7 points per game. Yet, they kept pace with the run-and-gun Pacers.

Head coach Monty Williams is trying to remain upbeat after dropping 20 games in a row.

As much as this losing hurts us, and it hurts like you can’t believe, I see a lot of growth,” said Williams. “I’m encouraged by some of the things we saw tonight. We just need to build on them.”

Point guard Cade Cunningham, the #1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, appeared in just 12 games last season because of a stress fracture in his leg. A healthy Cunningham leads the Pistons with a career-high 22 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

“We need to get to the point where we are turning that page,” said Cunningham. “We keep talking about it, but now we have to do something.”

Center Isaiah Stewart thinks that a win can help jumpstart the team and propel them in a new direction.

“It’s about momentum, energy shift,” said Stewart. “If we get some wins, I feel like we might show more. We all get along with each other off the court. It’s just all about transferring over to the court.”

The Pistons ended last season with a 2-23 skid after the NBA trade deadline. They finished the 2022-23 season with the worst record in the NBA at 17-65.

Since mid-February, the Pistons are 4-44, including 2-21 this season. They began the 2023-24 season with a loss, but bounced back with two victories in a row to improve to 2-1 before embarking on their 20-game slide.

Losing in Motown: Keep Fading the Pistons

During the current losing streak, the Pistons were handed 11 double-digit losses, and four were blowouts by 20 or more points. Seven losses were within an eight-point margin, and two close games were within four points.

With an 8-14-1 record against the point spread, the Pistons have the second-worst betting record in the NBA this season. The Atlanta Hawks have the worst ATS record this season at 5-17.

During their 20-game losing streak, the Pistons are 5-14-1 ATS. The Pistons are +11.5 home underdogs against the 76ers Wednesday night. The point total is 233.5 over/under.

The 76ers are the fifth-best betting team in the NBA with a 15-7 ATS record. The 76ers are one of the top points over/under teams in the NBA. They have a 16-6 record in hitting the over this season. The Pistons are 13-8 in hitting overs in their last 21 games.

The Milwaukee Bucks (16-7) have the second-most wins in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics (17-5). The Bucks occupy first place in the Central Division and are the consensus favorite to win the division at -225 odds. The Cleveland Cavaliers (+300) and the Pacers (+800) are their closest competition. The Chicago Bulls (+50000) and Pistons (+100000) are huge long shots to win the division.

The Bulls are on the verge of breaking up the team and trading away their top assets, like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. The young Pistons want to keep their roster intact despite their awful start.

Pistons Last Won a Playoff Game in 2008

With only 17 victories last season, the Pistons finished in last place in the Eastern Conference for the second time in the last three seasons. They haven’t finished higher than 13th place in the conference over the last four seasons.

Since posting a 59-23 record in the 2007-08 season, the Pistons have only one winning season over the last 15 years. During that span, they have never finished higher than eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons snuck into the playoffs as an #8 seed in those three seasons, but were promptly swept in all three instances. They went 0-12 in the playoffs since they were knocked out of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.

When the season began, oddsmakers installed the Pistons with a win total of 27.5 over/under. After a troublesome start, the Pistons have an updated win total of 19.5 o/u.

The Pistons are a long shot to participate in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament at +2000 odds.