The Detroit Pistons avoided another dance in NBA history on Saturday, defeating the Toronto Raptors 129-127 at Little Caesars Arena, ending a 28-game losing skid that tied the league's all-time losing record.
Pistons coach Monty Williams said there was “definitely a sense of relief” following the win. “But there is no proverbial exit. We know we have a lot of basketball left to play,” he added.
Star guard Kate Cunningham led the Pistons with 30 points and 12 assists in the contest, while center Jalen Duren had a double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Raptors forward Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 35 points. The Raptors were without forward OG Anunoby, whom Toronto traded to the New York Knicks before Saturday's game.
The Pistons blew a 19-point lead in Thursday night's 128-122 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, tying the Philadelphia 76ers' losing streak of 28 straight at the end of the 2014-15 season. and the start of the 2015-16 season.
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Before the win over Toronto, the Pistons (3-29) last won a game on Oct. 28, beating the Chicago Bulls 118-102 in the third game of the season. The win sealed Williams' six-year contract that could pay him nearly $100 million this season, improving Detroit to 2-1, his only win of the season.
How the Pistons snapped their streak
For the first time in a long time, Detroit was solid through 48 minutes. Won three of four quarters and lost only four points in the third quarter. The Pistons made more than 85 percent of their 25-plus free-throw attempts, which hasn't happened often in recent weeks. Detroit is nowhere near its season average of 17 turnovers. The Pistons were consistent and didn't have a disastrous stretch throughout the game, and it paid off in the form of a win. — James L. Edwards III, Pistons beat writer
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The importance of success
With the weight of the losing streak off the Pistons' shoulders, there's a chance Detroit won't be defined by this historic skid. The Pistons played great basketball despite the results, and are set to make a tough West Coast trip. The Orlando Magic started last season with a 5-20 record and finished the year with 30 wins. The Pistons need to start building momentum for next season. — Edwards
Could this be a reason for hope?
I don't know about hope, but taking the weight off their shoulders will help the Pistons win a basketball game more often than once every two months. The stress that the next loss is not a historical reference will, of course, allow everyone to breathe a little. I don't think Detroit will turn around and make a postseason run or anything, but I could see the Pistons getting a win or two from the pressure relief over the next two weeks. — Edwards
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(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
