Pistons FINALLY win! After 28 straight losses – an NBA season record – Detroit beats the Toronto Raptors to secure first victory in 63 days and avoid the longest skid in league history
- The Detroit Pistons overcame a fightback to defeat the Toronto Raptors 129-127
- Detroit hadn't won since beating the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 28
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The Detroit Pistons finally ended their losing streak by beating the Toronto Raptors to secure their first win in 29 NBA games after more than two months of waiting.
Detroit hadn't won since Oct. 28, and the 28-game skid was already an NBA single-season record.
A defeat on Saturday night would have condemned the team to the longest losing streak in league history.
But the Pistons prevailed 129-127 against the Raptors to push their record for the season to 3-29.
Remarkably, Detroit won two of the first three games of the season. But after the 118-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls on October 28, Pistons fans had to wait until December 30 to celebrate another win.
The Detroit Pistons finally ended their losing streak by defeating the Toronto Raptors
The Pistons prevailed 129-127 against the Raptors, moving their record for the season to 3-29
Jalen Duren scored 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons in Saturday night's game
Detroit had tied the Philadelphia 76ers' record of 28 straight losses spanning the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
The Pistons finished one loss short of the record in the four major American and Canadian leagues, set by the Chicago Cardinals during World War II.
On Saturday night, Jalen Duren collected 18 points and 17 rebounds for Detroit (3-29), while Kevin Knox II scored 17 points.
'I've been in a lot of dressing rooms all my life, and that was the first time for me. It wasn't relief. It was more like, 'Thank God! Finally,'” head coach Monty Williams said.
“I just have so much respect for our team, how they come in every day. I think people thought they were okay with losing, but no, they came in with great minds and ready to learn.”
Detroit had previously tied the Philadelphia 76ers' record of 28 consecutive losses
He added: 'There was definitely a sense of relief. But there wasn't the proverbial exhalation. We know we still have a lot of basketball left to play.”
Pistons owner Tom Gores praised his team's character. “I'm proud of the way our guys have continued to give despite adversity,” he said.
'I know it's been difficult, but they've kept their heads high and shown real character. The streak is over, but the hard work continues.”
For Toronto, Pascal Siakam had 35 points and Dennis Schroder scored 28 points in the loss. Early Saturday, the Raptors traded OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks and received RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in return.