One game after tying the Philadelphia 76ers for the longest losing streak in NBA history, the Detroit Pistons upset the Toronto Raptors, 129-127, to win for the first time in 29 games. Cade Cunningham led the way with 30 points and 12 assists while Jalen Duren posted 18 points and 17 boards.
Detroit closed as four-point home ‘dogs at tip-off, but were popular among bettors, as 64% of all bets and 76% of the money were on the Pistons to cover. They were also a popular pick to win straight-up, with 83% of tickets and 87% of the money backing them. The Pistons closed at +142 on the moneyline at FanDuel.
While Detroit didn’t set a new NBA record, its 28-game losing streak is perhaps more ignominious than Philadelphia’s. The Pistons' streak came in a single season, while the 76ers' spanned the final 10 games of the 2014-15 campaign and first 18 games of the 2015-16 season.
All it took for the Pistons to finally pull out a win was Toronto trading away some of its key playmakers. The Raptors dealt OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks earlier in the day in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick.
Detroit's record is now 3-29, and the Pistons will look to make it two in a row on New Year's Day against the Houston Rockets.
