The Detroit Pistons have lost 19 straight games. Seven more losses would put them in the record books.
The all-time record for consecutive losses in a season is 26, a dubious achievement shared by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers lost 28 straight across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, but that’s two different rosters.
Detroit has to lose seven more games to reach that mark of futility, but none of those games will be easy. They face the in-season tournament finalist Indiana Pacers on Monday, who are averaging 128.4 points per game. Detroit averages 108.
Then it’s a home-and-home Wednesday and Friday with the 14-7 Sixers, who have the fourth-best point differential in the NBA. They finish a three-game road trip with games against the 15-7 Milwaukee Bucks and 9-12 Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are only 3-6 home, which might give the Pistons some hope.
Their best chance to break the streak might come Dec. 21, when the 7-15 Utah Jazz visit Detroit. The Jazz are 1-10 on the road this season, the worst mark in the NBA. Tied with the Pistons themselves, of course.
Otherwise, a home-and-home series with the Brooklyn Nets will determine if the Pistons get to 26 losses, or even 27. It seems improbable that the Pistons, a team with seven lottery picks from the last four drafts, would lose all eight of these upcoming games.
After all, the 2013-14 Sixers were losing on purpose with “The Process,” and the Cavaliers were reeling after LeBron James’ departure.
No one would have expected this team to lose 19 straight. So what’s eight more losses?
The only consolation for the Pistons is that they might not be in the record books for long. The San Antonio Spurs have lost 16 straight, so they’re right on the Pistons’ heels.
At least one of those streaks will end by Jan. 10 — that’s when these two historically bad teams play each other.
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