Detroit Pistons' losing streak extends to 20 games
The desperate Detroit Pistons (2-21) will look to snap a 20-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (15-7) on Wednesday night.
The Pistons and the 76ers had a home-and-away "two-hero" series, two games in three days. The Sixers host the Pistons on Friday in Philadelphia.
The Sixers have won three games in a row and will look to continue that streak against the struggling Pistons.
The 76ers hold multiple NBA losing streak records. They set a season record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2013/14 season. They also have the longest overall losing streak in NBA history, losing 28 games in two seasons. Their steep decline began at the end of the 2015-16 season and continued into the start of the 2016-17 season.
Pistons try to stay positive
The Pistons lost to the high-scoring Indiana Pacers in a shootout on Monday night, 131-123. The Pistons have the league's third-lowest scoring offense, averaging 108.7 points per game. Still, they kept up with the run-and-gun Pacers.
Head Coach Monty Williams is trying to stay positive after losing 20 straight games.
As much as this loss hurt us, and it hurt unbelievably, I saw a lot of growth," Williams said."Some of the things we saw tonight encouraged me. We just have to build on this. "
Point guard Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, played in just 12 games last season due to a stress fracture in his leg. A healthy Cunningham is averaging a career-high 22 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with the Pistons.
"We have to turn the page," Cunningham said. "We've been talking about this, but now we have to do something."
Center Isaiah Stewart believes a win can give the team momentum and push them in a new direction.
"It's about dynamics, energy conversion," Stewart said. "If we get a couple wins, I feel like we might be able to show more. We get along well off the field. It's just a matter of going to court."
The Pistons were 2-23 at the NBA trade deadline last season. They finish the 2022-23 season with the NBA's worst record (17-65).
The Pistons are 4-44 since mid-February and 2-21 on the season. They started the 2023-24 season with a loss but bounced back with two straight wins to improve to 2-1 before suffering a 20-game losing streak.
Failure at Motown: The Decline of the Pistons
In the current losing streak, the Pistons have lost by double digits 11 times, including falling behind by more than 20 points four times. There are seven games that have been decided by eight points and two close games that have been decided by within four points.
The Pistons went 8-14-1 against the spread, the second-worst betting record in the NBA this season. The Atlanta Hawks have their worst ATS record of the season at 5-17.
During their 20-game losing streak, the Pistons were 5-14 ATS. The Pistons are +11.5 at home against the 76ers on Wednesday night. The overall score was 233.5 over/under.
The 76ers are the fifth most betting team in the NBA with a 15-7 ATS record. The 76ers are one of the highest-ranked teams in the NBA. Their average points per game this season is 16 wins and 6 losses. The Pistons have a record of 13 wins and 8 losses in their past 21 games.
The Milwaukee Bucks (16-7) are second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics (17-5). The Bucks are in first place in the Central Division and are the consensus favorite to win the division at -225 odds. The Cleveland Cavaliers (+300) and Pacers (+800) are their closest competitors. The Chicago Bulls (+50,000) and Pistons (+100,000) are prime opportunities to win the division.
The Bulls are about to dismantle the team and give up their best players like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Despite a poor start, the young Pistons hope to keep their roster intact.
The last time the Pistons won a playoff game was in 2008
The Pistons won only 17 games last season and ranked last in the Eastern Conference for the second time in the past three seasons. They have finished no higher than 13th in the league over the past four seasons.
The Pistons have won just once in the past 15 years since going 59-23 in the 2007-08 season. During that time, they never finished higher than eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons made the playoffs as the eighth seed in each of those three seasons, but failed miserably in each of those three seasons. They are 0-12 in the playoffs since being eliminated in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.
When the season began, oddsmakers had the Pistons winning total at 27.5 wins/losses. After a rough start, the Pistons have an updated overall winning percentage of 19.5 o/u.
The Pistons are nowhere near the Eastern Conference playoff spot at +2000 odds.
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