Detroit Pistons

2023-12-28

Detroit Pistons grab 21-point lead, give it all back in loss to Celtics as skid hits 28

Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press

It was a familiar ending for the Detroit Pistons. But the path to get there was still one of their better efforts of the season.

They faced the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics, on the road and went toe-to-toe with them for most of the game at TD Garden in Boston. But it was another collapse for the Pistons, who led by 21 points in the second quarter and by 19 points at halftime before giving up a massive run that gave the Celtics a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and, eventually, a 128-122 victory in overtime.

The loss extends the Pistons' losing streak to 28 games, an NBA record for a single-season skid. It also ties them with the 2014-15/2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest skid regardless of season. (Those 76ers lost 10 games to finish the '14-15 season and 18 to start the '15-16 campaign.) Detroit can claim the record outright with a loss in its next game, Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Cade Cunningham continued his hot streak with 31 points and nine assists — scoring 22 points in the first half — but also had six turnovers. Jaden Ivey (22 points) and Bojan Bogdanovic (17 points, 12 rebounds) hit big shots late, and Jalen Duren (15 points, 14 rebounds) helped the Pistons stay competitive late by controlling the offensive glass.

With Isaiah Stewart in street clothes due to a sprained toe, head coach Monty Williams debuted a new starting lineup — Cunningham, Ivey, Bogdanovic, Duren and Kevin Knox. The group had immediate chemistry on both ends of the floor — at least, early on — enabling the Pistons to build an early double-digit lead to enter the second quarter with a 30-27 lead.

But the Celtics, who have not lost on their home court in the regular season since March, would not be denied, climbing back into the game with 35 points in the third quarter.

A pair of 3-pointers from Cunningham and Alec Burks allowed Detroit to bounce back from Boston’s huge run. That was followed by a late 10-0 Celtics run which threatened to put the game away, as a deep 3-pointer by Kristaps Porzingis (who led all scorers with 35 points) extended their lead to six, 106-100. But Ivey answered with two of the biggest shots of the night, finishing a 3-point play and a corner 3-pointer to tie the game.

Cunningham was whistled for a goaltend on a layup attempt by Jayson Tatum (31 points) with 8.1 seconds to go, but Bogdanovic tipped in Cunningham’s missed 3 on the other end to tie the game with 4.1 seconds remaining. Tatum’s contested jumper missed, sending the game into overtime.

The Celtics clinched the game with a 10-2 run that gave them a six-point advantage, 123-117, with 45 seconds remaining. A missed step-back 3 by Bogdanovic led to an easy fastbreak dunk for Porzingis, and Isaiah Livers missed a pair of free throws on the following possession with just under 30 seconds left.

Cunningham stays red hot

Amidst the Pistons’ historic struggles, Cunningham has been playing the best basketball of his career this month. Entering Thursday, he was averaging 24.3 points, seven assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 11 December games while shooting 50%. His marksmanship from midrange, along with improved playmaking (down to 2.9 turnovers per game in December after leading the NBA in October and November with 4.5 a game) has largely made up for his 30.9% percentage beyond the arc.

He entered Thursday coming off of arguably his best game yet, scoring 37 of his 41 points in the second half as the Pistons fell just short against the Brooklyn Nets, 118-112. That was only a week after he had what was unquestionably his best game, as he scored a career-high 43 points — with seven assists, five rebounds and three steals — in a road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Cunningham shot lights-out in third and fourth quarters on Tuesday, making 13 of his 16 shot attempts. He picked up right where he left off Thursday, scoring 10 of the Pistons’ first 18 points as they built an early 28-17 lead toward the end of the first quarter. The team lost some momentum after Williams went with an all-bench lineup toward the end of the quarter, and Boston used a 14-2 run to take the lead, 31-30, early in the second.

The Pistons punched back. A contested Cunningham 3-pointer midway through the period gave Detroit a nine-point advantage, and the team continued to move the ball in halfcourt situations and punish Boston in transition. Cunningham maintained his fire, finishing a pair of free throws, gorgeous move to the rim for a layup and yet another midrange jumper to help Detroit enter halftime with a 19-point lead, after outscoring Boston 36-16 down the stretch.

Celtics take control in bad quarter for Pistons

Detroit has been plagued by cold spells during their historic losing streak. They might’ve had their worst of the season on Thursday, following arguably their best first half. Boston outscored them 35-16 in the third, shooting 13-for-19 as the Pistons looked lethargic on both ends.

The run tied the game at 82 entering the fourth, and a pair of Derrick White baskets gave Boston a four-point advantage early in the period.

The Piston answered with a 10-2 run though, positioning them to send the game into overtime before ultimately falling short.