Detroit Pistons equal longest losing run in history with 28th straight defeat
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Image caption: Cade Cunningham top scored for Detroit with 31 points – but it was not enough to avoid defeat
The Detroit Pistons equalled the longest losing run in NBA history as they were beaten by the Boston Celtics for a 28th consecutive defeat.
Detroit, who lost 128-122, matched the record set by the Philadelphia 76ers across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
The Pistons led by 21 points at one stage against the Celtics but went on to lose in overtime.
They face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday aiming to avoid taking sole ownership of the losing record.
Detroit became the first team to lose 27 straight games in a single season when they fell to a 118-112 defeat by the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Aiming to avoid making more unwanted history on Thursday night, the Pistons led 66-47 at half-time but Boston wiped out that advantage in the third quarter.
And, after a score from Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanovic sent the game into overtime, Derrick White scored 10 points to ensure the Celtics, who have the NBA’s best record, achieved a 24th win of the season – and extended their perfect home streak to 15-0.
Elsewhere, LeBron James scored 17 points and contributed 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 133-112 win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Anthony Davis top scored for the Lakers with 26 points to help his side earn only their third victory in nine games since triumphing in the NBA in-season tournament.
Nikola Jokic starred for the Denver Nuggets in a 142-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jokic scored 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to complete his 11th triple-double of the season as the Nuggets earned a season-best sixth straight win.
Brandon Ingram scored 26 points as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Utah Jazz 112-105, while the Indiana Pacers recovered from losing a 25-point advantage to defeat the Chicago Bulls 120-104.
The Dallas Mavericks’ poor form continued in the absence of injured pair Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving – a 118-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves their sixth defeat in nine games.