Detroit Pistons blow 21-point first half lead and lose to the Boston Celtics to tie the record for the NBA’s longest ever losing streak at 28 games
The Detroit Pistons' historic losing streak extended to 28 straight games and started counting after they suffered a 128-122 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.
To add insult to injury, the Pistons blew a 21-point run during the second quarter, tying the longest losing streak in NBA history.
Detroit's shocking streak had given them sole possession of the NBA record for the longest single-season streak in league history on Tuesday after a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Detroit's embarrassing loss to the Celtics is now tied with the Philadelphia 76ers during a losing streak that stretched from the 2014-2015 season through the 2015-2016 seasons.
Detroit was able to take a huge lead early and led by 19 points when the game went into halftime. Their lead was as much as 21 points in the first half.
The Pistons extended a 21-point first-half lead against the Celtics to extend their losing streak
Detroit is now tied for the longest losing streak in NBA history, tied with the 76ers after 28 games
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis led the game with 35 points to lead Boston to victory
However, things took an incredible turn in the third quarter as the Celtics were able to battle back and tie the score at 82-82 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to a 23-7 run.
Pistons superstar guard Cade Cunningham continued his stellar 41-point performance in Tuesday's historic loss by scoring a team-high 31 as Detroit tried to earn their first win since Oct. 28.
Cunnigham had put up a whopping 22 points in the first half alone before finishing the game with his final totals of 31 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Boston, on the other hand, was led by center Kristaps Porzingis, who finished the night with a game-high 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum finished the game with 31 points, 10 asts, eight rebs and five steals to pick up one of his most important double-doubles of the season.
The game was nearly decided in the final seconds when Cunningham was called for a goaltending violation with 8.7 seconds left as Tatum attempted to break a 106–106 tie and give the Celtics a lead of give two points.
Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic secured a put-back layup with less than five seconds left, forcing the game into overtime.
After overtime, guard Derrick White started playing like a man possessed to ensure the Celtics avoided an embarrassing loss on their home court.
White finished the evening with 23 points.