Pistons gamers sat in surprised silence in a single nook of the locker room, stared blankly forward in one other.
The worst stretch of basketball of their lives now ranks as one of many worst in NBA historical past.
Detroit matched the league report for the longest dropping streak in a single season, falling 126-115 to the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Saturday evening for its twenty sixth straight loss.
“None of us went via this, ever,” centre Isaiah Stewart mentioned. “That is the toughest factor most likely all of us went via, particularly being within the execs.”
The Pistons joined the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers, dropping to 2-27 of their first season below Monty Williams. They had been within the recreation within the second half earlier than the Nets put them away with a 15-0 run to open a 21-point lead and make sure that Detroit would stay winless since Oct. 28.
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The groups will meet once more Tuesday evening in Detroit, with the Pistons nearing the general longest skid in league historical past. The 76ers misplaced 28 consecutive video games from late within the 2014-15 season via early 2015-16.
“Everyone needs to win, all people hates dropping, so it is arduous,” guard Cade Cunningham mentioned. “We have to be reasonable as nicely. Cannot simply maintain saying the identical issues time and again, like we’ll get the subsequent one. There needs to be like a plan of motion, so we’re simply attempting to determine that out.”
The Nets shot 52 per cent from the sector, exhibiting loads of vitality of their second evening of back-to-back video games after dropping to the NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Friday. They bought some simple baskets due to the Pistons, whose 14 turnovers led to 22 factors.
Williams mentioned he did not really feel like their dangerous play was resulting in dangerous luck for the Pistons.
“We had a variety of powerful breaks this yr, however I attempt not to have a look at life that means. It simply occurs,” he mentioned. “Whenever you flip it over 14 occasions you do not count on 22 factors, nevertheless it occurs. These dwell turnovers, they’re basketball loss of life for possessions and we have had a variety of these this yr.”
Nets draw back in third quarter
The Pistons had been inside two halfway via the third quarter earlier than a fast seven straight factors by the Nets pushed the lead again to 9. It was nonetheless simply 88-82 with below three minutes remaining, however Royce O’Neale made a 3-pointer and Day’Ron Sharpe adopted with consecutive baskets to set off a 10-0 end to the interval that made it 98-82.
Thomas scored the primary 5 of the fourth quarter to make it 103-82, giving the Nets their largest lead.
Jaden Ivey scored 23 factors for the Pistons, who began 2-1 of their first season below Williams earlier than their free fall towards infamy. Cunningham completed with 22 factors after being restricted to simply 11 minutes within the first half after choosing up three fouls.
They foul an excessive amount of (most within the league with 22.8 per recreation) and switch it over too typically (twenty ninth, with 16.6 per recreation) and simply have not been in a position to overcome the mix of errors.
Nets ahead Cam Johnson, who together with Bridges performed for Williams in Phoenix, believes his former coach can construct a contender along with his new workforce.
“I instructed them, a number of the younger guys on the workforce after the sport, that typically you bought to lose earlier than you’ll be able to win, typically you bought to fall earlier than you crawl, stroll earlier than you’ll be able to run,” Johnson mentioned.
Detroit began with a pair good possessions in leaping to a 6-0 lead however then bought careless, turning it over six occasions within the first quarter. The Nets cashed these in for 11 factors, which was the margin when the quarter ended with Brooklyn forward 32-21.
The Pistons performed higher within the second quarter however might solely lower two factors off the deficit, trailing 65-56 on the break.
