Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 77° Today's Paper


Top News

Celtics send Pistons to NBA record-tying 28th straight loss

DUANE BURLESON / AP
                                Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) return to the court during the fourth quarter of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 26, in Detroit. The Pistons set an NBA single-season record with 27 straight losses.

DUANE BURLESON / AP

Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) return to the court during the fourth quarter of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 26, in Detroit. The Pistons set an NBA single-season record with 27 straight losses.

BOSTON >> Hoping to avoid a 28th straight loss that would match the longest losing streak in NBA history, the Detroit Pistons forced overtime against the league-best Celtics on Thursday night before Boston recovered to win 128-122.

Despite making it to overtime for the first time in the skid, Detroit matched the “Trust the Process” Philadelphia 76ers with 28 consecutive losses. The Pistons need a victory at home against Toronto on Saturday night to avoid breaking the record.

Detroit opened a season-high 21-point lead in the first half only to trail 106-100 in the final two minutes of regulation. Jaden Ivey scored six straight points to erase the deficit, then Bojan Bogdanovic made a putback with 4.6 seconds left to send it to OT.

But Derrick White scored 10 of his 23 points in the extra period and Kristaps Porzingis had six in the overtime — dunking after a full-court pass from Jayson Tatum and then sinking a pair of free throws to make it 125-117. Porzingis had 35 points — 11 in the fourth quarter, and eight of those during a 10-0 run that turned a four-point deficit lead into a 106-100 lead.

Tatum had 31 points and 10 assists for Boston, which won its fourth straight and its ninth in the last 10 games.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 31 points and nine assists. Ivey had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

The Pistons set the NBA record for most consecutive losses in a season Tuesday night with their 27th in a row, a 118-112 loss to Brooklyn. The Sixers’ streak stretched over two seasons, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Host Toronto on Saturday night before a four-game trip.

Celtics: Host Toronto on Friday night.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.