With every consecutive loss, the 2023-24 Pistons are one step closer to NBA infamy.
Detroit owns the NBA’s worst record, standing at 2-21 after losing 20 consecutive games. Its last win came during the opening week of the new season all the way back on Oct. 28.
Since then, the Pistons went winless in November and their losing streak has carried into December. They aren’t quite at the mark of the worst losing streak in NBA history, but they’re getting close.
And they’re not alone, either.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs haven’t enjoyed much success early on in the rookie’s career. San Antonio, 3-19, is only a game and a half ahead of Detroit for the worst record in the NBA. The Spurs are currently riding a 17-game losing streak and haven’t won since Nov. 2.
How close are these teams to landing on the wrong side of NBA history? The Sporting News takes a look at the longest losing streaks of all time below.
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What is the longest losing streak in NBA history?
The Pistons’ 20-game losing streak is only the sixth of its kind in NBA history. It is the second-longest losing streak in franchise history, just one defeat shy of the 1980 Pistons, who lost 21 consecutive games over the span of two seasons.
Detroit is still a handful of losses away from the NBA’s all-time losing streak record. That (dis)honor belongs to “The Process” 76ers, who lost 28 games spanning from the 2014-15 season to the 2015-16 season.
The longest single-season losing streak is 26 games, which belongs to the 2013-14 76ers and 2010-11 Cavaliers, Cleveland’s first season after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach.
Here are the worst losing streaks in NBA history:
Rank Team Year Losing streak 1 Philadelphia 76ers 2015* 28 2 Cleveland Cavaliers 2010-11 26 Philadelphia 76ers 2014 26 4 Cleveland Cavaliers 1982* 24 5 Charlotte Bobcats 2012 23 Denver Nuggets 1997-98 23 Vancouver Grizzlies 1996 23 8 Detroit Pistons 1980* 21 9 Detroit Pistons 2023 20 Houston Rockets 2021 20 LA Clippers 1994* 20 Dallas Mavericks 1993 20 New York Knicks 1985* 20 Philadelphia 76ers 1973 20
*Span of two seasons
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Pistons upcoming schedule 2023
Unfortunately for Detroit, its schedule doesn’t exactly let up as it gets closer to infamy.
The Pistons’ next opportunity to snap their losing streak will be on Wednesday, Dec. 13 against Joel Embiid and the 76ers. They play Philadelphia again on Dec. 15 before traveling to Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks on Dec. 16.
Detroit’s next matchup against a team under .500 doesn’t come until Dec. 18. It could be riding a 23-game losing streak at that point.
Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel Dec. 13 vs. 76ers 7 p.m. — Dec. 15 at 76ers 7 p.m. — Dec. 16 at Bucks 6 p.m. — Dec. 18 at Hawks 7:30 p.m. — Dec. 21 vs. Jazz 7 p.m. —
Spurs upcoming schedule 2023
The Spurs’ upcoming schedule isn’t much more forgiving than the Pistons.
San Antonio will face LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the In-Season Tournament-champion Lakers two games in a row on Dec. 13 and 15. It has a matchup with Zion Williamson and the Pelicans on Dec. 17 and a tough meeting with Antetokounmpo, Lillard and the Bucks on Dec. 19.
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The Spurs’ next game against a team under .500 doesn’t come until Dec. 21. They could be on a 21-game losing streak at that point.
Date OpponentTime (ET) TV channel Dec. 13 vs. Lakers 8 p.m. NBA TV Dec. 15 vs. Lakers 7:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 17 vs. Pelicans 3:30 p.m. — Dec. 19 at Bucks 8 p.m. — Dec. 21 at Bulls 8 p.m. —
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