Detroit Pistons finally end 28-game losing streak in NBA with win over Toronto Raptors after OG Anunoby trade
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Updated 31/12/2023 at 09:05 GMT
The NBA’s joint-longest losing streak is over after the Detroit Pistons won for the first time in 28 matches on Saturday, beating the Toronto Raptors. The Pistons hadn’t won since October 29 when they overcame the Chicago Bulls 118-102 in what was just their third game of the season to, ironically, move to a winning record of 2-1. The Raptors meanwhile were caught short after a big trade.
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The Detroit Pistons’ 28-game losing streak has finally come to an end after they beat a short-handed Toronto Raptors 129-127 on Saturday evening.
The Pistons’ run saw them break the single-season record of 26 straight games lost that was previously held by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers. They also equalled the 28 games the 76ers lost over two seasons across 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Had they lost to the Raptors it would have matched the record across major American professional sport when the Chicago Cardinals lost 29 games in the NFL from 1942 to 1945.
The relief was apparent for Pistons head coach Monty Williams, who admitted that at the end of the game he was nearly in tears.
"I’ve been in a ton of locker rooms my whole life and that’s a first for me to have that kind of… it wasn’t relief it was just like, thank God, you know, finally," Williams said.
"Guys were screaming I was almost in tears and I’m just so happy for our guys.
"I’m happy for everybody in the locker room."
Former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham also admitted that the lengthy run had been weighing on the team.
“We just kept battling. It’s been a long, long stretch – all these losses – but I’m just happy to be a part of a group of guys that don’t quit and bring it every day and still stay positive and uplift each other,” Cunningham said after the game.
“It’s been weighing on us heavy everywhere we go for two months, which is unreal… for it to have been that long.
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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 30: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates during the game against the Toronto Raptors on December 30, 2023 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Image credit: Getty Images
“It was a long time coming, something that we’ve been pushing for for so long and to finally get over that hump, we’re not trying to go back.
“Now it really begins where we see who we’re going to be and if we’re going to continue to play with that same fire that we’ve been playing with.”
The Raptors were fielding a very inexperienced team having earlier in the day completed the first really big trade as we approach the deadline.
Toronto agreed a deal to send forward OG Anunoby plus Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks.
New York sent Canadian star RJ Barrett back north of the border in exchange along with Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick but the two players hadn’t arrived in time to suit up for the game.
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