The Detroit Pistons played like a team of destiny Thursday night.
Unfortunately, it was the wrong kind of destiny for the Pistons and their suffering fans.
The Pistons tied an NBA record by losing their 28th consecutive game, 128-122 in overtime, to the Boston Celtics.
Detroit didn’t just lose, it lost in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable, blowing a huge lead. The Pistons led by 21 points just before halftime, and went into the locker room up 66-47.
Yet somehow, the Pistons squandered most of that lead in about a five-minute span in the third quarter, and the two teams were tied at 82 after three.
After falling behind by six with 1:42 remaining in regulation, the Pistons rallied to send the game into overtime, thanks to Bojan Bogdanović’s rebound and basket with 4.6 seconds remaining.
The game was tied thanks to this putback from Detroit's Bojan Bogdanović. pic.twitter.com/1iQU46dthA
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 29, 2023
But overtime just brought misery, as the Celtics took control.
"Who knew the best game of the season was gonna be when Detroit came to town?" pic.twitter.com/oKqXcAVvAt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2023
"It was one heck of an effort. But the Pistons drop their 28th straight. Which does tie the longest losing streak in NBA history." pic.twitter.com/KDdDLR66PB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2023
The Pistons will have a chance to break the NBA record for consecutive losses they share with the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers when they host the Toronto Raptors Saturday. Detroit had already set the record for most consecutive losses (27) in a single season earlier in the week.
NBA fans agreed it was a crazy way for the Pistons’ streak to continue. Fans checked in on X/Twitter throughout the game to comment about their historic streak of ineptitude and the looming disaster Thursday night.
I would argue that the Pistons are now getting everyone’s best effort, more so than the defending NBA Champs. Who would you rather lose to? The team riding professional sport’s longest losing streak or a team you are suppose to lose to? #Pistons #DetroitBasketball
— Jeff McAdam (@JeffMcAdamTV) December 29, 2023
Pistons broadcast wants this soooo bad . all journalistic objectivity has been tomahawked out the window and is free-falling to the ground . absolute chaos on here i love it.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 29, 2023
objectively hilarious for the Pistons to blow a 21 point lead to tie the longest losing streak in NBA history
— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) December 29, 2023
Well it was a fun fantasy while it lasted but personally I was hoping for the Pistons' losing streak to end just because this scenario would have been really funny. #Pistons #Celtics pic.twitter.com/iWeIvPKJih
— Evan Birnholz (@evanbirnholz) December 29, 2023
Pistons wasted a generational Twitter night pic.twitter.com/CWSVrXQ3U1
— dior ⭒ (@onlydioria) December 29, 2023
Piston fans watching their team blow 20 point lead 💔 pic.twitter.com/uNE7MwJNb9
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) December 29, 2023
The enthusiasm on Bally Detroit is amusing; they’re treating it as if it’s a playoff game. 😄
— Muhammad Zubair (@MZaibi74) December 29, 2023
the pistons could’ve lost every other game for the rest of the season…the world needed them to win this ONE game
— jay (@javontaa_) December 29, 2023
[Photo Credit: Bally Sports]
