Just two years ago, the Detroit Pistons set an NBA record for consecutive losses in a single season with 28 defeats. Now, the franchise seems unstoppable. On Monday night, Detroit defeated the Indiana Pacers 122-117, tying a team record with their 13th straight victory and matching the winning streaks of the 1990 and 2004 NBA championship squads. The Pistons improved their record to 15-2 in the current campaign.
"It's amazing," said Pistons star Cade Cunningham. "We play for the Detroit Pistons, man. A historic franchise. So, to be able to make history for a historic franchise like this — it's special." The team’s resurgence is especially remarkable considering the 2023-24 season, when they finished 3-36 and won only 14 games.
Detroit overcame a gritty Pacers team, which has struggled through injuries this season and now sits at 2-15, to extend its streak. Cunningham, the former No. 1 overall pick, led the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jalen Duren added 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Caris LeVert contributed 19 points. Jaden Ivey, returning from a fibula injury, scored 12 points in just 12 minutes under a minutes restriction.
Despite the victory, Cunningham admitted that the Pistons nearly squandered an 18-point fourth-quarter lead. "We shouldn't have allowed them to get back into the game like that," he said. "So watch the film, be sick about the film, but work from it, learn from it, and get better." Detroit will face another test on Wednesday night when they travel to Boston for an NBA Cup clash, with a chance to continue their historic run.
ADD A COMMENT :