Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have been one of the NBA’s biggest stories in the early going.
But the Pistons’ winning streak finally came to an end Wednesday, the team falling just short of setting a new franchise record with 14 consecutive wins.
The Boston Celtics held off the Pistons 117-114 in a back-and-forth contest at TD Garden. The Pistons hadn’t lost since Oct. 27, a 116-95 home defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons are now 15-3 after a 2-2 start to the season.
The game was tied at 97 with 5:48 left in the game. The Celtics led the Pistons 111-110 with 12.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when Cunningham had the ball stolen by Derrick White. The two teams would go on to exchange free throws, with both Cunningham and White making their respective free throws.
After a shooting foul, Cunningham was back at the line with 4.4 seconds left and his team down three. He made just two of his three free throw attempts, though, giving the game away.
The Pistons tied a franchise record on Monday with their 13th consecutive win, tying their highest mark from the 1990 and 2004 championship seasons. In 2023, Cunningham and the Pistons suffered through a historic 28-game losing streak.
Pistons winning streak
Oct. 29: vs. Magic, 135-116
Nov. 1: vs. Mavericks, 122-110
Nov. 3: at Grizzlies, 114-106
Nov. 5: vs. Jazz, 114-103
Nov. 7: at Nets, 125-107
Nov. 9: at 76ers, 111-108
Nov. 10: vs. Wizards, 137-135 (OT)
Nov. 12: vs. Bulls, 124-113
Nov. 14: vs. 76ers, 114-105
Nov. 17: vs. Pacers, 127-112
Nov. 18: at Hawks, 120-112
Nov. 22: at Bucks, 129-116
Nov. 24: at Pacers, 122-117