Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams watches his gamers through the first half of an NBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON— Detroit coach Monty Williams has believed it for some time, and now he has proof: The Pistons can compete with anyone within the NBA.
And, he can solely hope, the wins will come quickly sufficient.
The Pistons opened a 21-point lead over the league-best Celtics on Thursday evening, forcing additional time earlier than Boston pulled out a 128-122 victory and despatched Detroit to an NBA record-tying twenty eighth loss in a row.
“As dangerous as they harm proper now, I harm for them,” Williams mentioned. “However I informed them: `If we carry that form of toughness and execution — minus the turnovers — we’re not simply going to win one recreation. We’re going to place one thing collectively.’”
It was the primary time all season the Pistons led by greater than 20 factors, and the primary time they’d gotten to additional time within the two months since their final win. Detroit has additionally misplaced to Miami by one level, Milwaukee by two and defending champion Denver by 4 factors this season.
“We’re on the identical degree as all these groups have been taking part in in opposition to,” mentioned Detroit guard Cade Cunningham, who had 31 factors and 9 assists however missed a possible profitable 3-pointer on the finish of regulation.
“There’s no staff that I’ve ever come throughout within the NBA the place I felt like I used to be going right into a slaughterhouse. I’ve by no means felt like that in my life, going right into a basketball recreation,” he mentioned. “So each recreation we should always have the ability to battle groups and impose our will on them. We did that early on. We form of let go of the rope a bit of bit within the third quarter. However there’s lots of development, and one thing we are able to be taught from and positively take to the subsequent recreation.”
Detroit fell to 2-29 and matched the “Belief the Course of” Philadelphia 76ers with the 28 consecutive losses; the Pistons want a victory at residence in opposition to Toronto on Saturday evening to keep away from breaking the NBA report for longest dropping streak.
In main North American sports activities, solely the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals, who misplaced 29 straight from 1942-45, have had an extended dropping streak.
“I’m not fascinated about simply profitable another recreation this 12 months — you understand what I imply? To cease this. That may be smooth, in my view,” Cunningham mentioned. “Our objectives are quite a bit greater than that. We’ve what it takes to win a recreation, that’s nothing. However to place video games collectively, to search out our system, discover what’s clicking and permit us to maintain profitable. That’s all we’re in search of.”
Kristaps Porzingis had eight of his season-high 35 factors in a 10-0 run that turned a four-point deficit right into a 106-100 Boston lead within the last two minutes of regulation. Jaden Ivey scored six straight factors for Detroit to tie it.
Then, after Jayson Tatum was credited with a layup on a replay-confirmed goaltending name, Bojan Bogdanovic made a putback on Cunningham’s missed 3 to ship it to OT.
Derrick White scored 10 of his 23 factors within the further interval and Porzingis had six within the additional time — dunking after a full-court cross from Tatum after which sinking a pair of free throws to make it 125-117.
Tatum had 31 factors and 10 assists for Boston, which gained its fourth straight and its ninth within the final 10 video games. The Celtics, who have been with out Jaylen Brown, are 15-0 at residence this season and have the league’s greatest report, 24-6.
The Pistons set the NBA report for many consecutive losses in a season Tuesday evening with their twenty seventh in a row, a 118-112 loss to Brooklyn. The Sixers’ streak stretched over two seasons, 2014-15 and 2015-16.
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“I’m unbelievably pleased with the group, the way in which they convey it,” Williams mentioned. “They’ve heard all of the stuff about our staff and so they simply preserve bringing it. I do know it’s going to repay.”