Pistons in danger of breaking history again after Celtics blowout

The Detroit Pistons moved closer to yet another significant milestone following a 129-102 loss to the Boston Celtics, edging towards potentially setting a new franchise record for the lowest number of wins. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Pistons are perilously close to eclipsing the historic low set in 1979-80 when they finished with a record of 16-66. As of now, the team stands at a 12-58 record, placing them on track to potentially rewrite this infamous mark by the end of the 2023-24 season. In addition, Detroit currently shares the ignominy of the worst record in the NBA with the Washington Wizards.

The path to the end of the season is fraught with challenges for the Pistons, as they face a daunting schedule. Six of their final 12 games pit them against playoff-bound teams, with nine of these matchups taking place away from home.

The team’s struggle with injuries further compounds their predicament, increasing the likelihood of reaching the new record low. Prior to their game against the Celtics, the Pistons had six players listed on the injury report: Ausar Thompson (illness), Simone Fontecchio (toe), Isaiah Stewart (hamstring), Quentin Grimes (knee), Stanley Umude (ankle), and Taj Gibson (hamstring). Moreover, center Jalen Duren was sidelined due to back spasms.

Head coach Monty Williams implemented yet another new starting lineup, featuring Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Troy Brown Jr., Tosan Evbuomwan, and James Wiseman, marking the 29th different starting lineup employed by Detroit to compensate for their injury woes.

Despite a competitive first quarter where they held a narrow 34-32 lead, the Pistons’ lack of depth and cohesion became increasingly evident as the game progressed against the Celtics. They committed 19 turnovers, with Boston’s formidable defense capitalizing on these opportunities. Offensively, the Celtics dominated, particularly from beyond the arc, converting 16 of 45 attempts.

Despite missing key players like Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 33 points, supported by Payton Prichard’s 20-point contribution as a starter. Additionally, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White each added 19 points to secure the victory for Boston.