It was almost a moment made for a movie.
The NBA’s worst team, losers of 27 straight games, takes on the NBA’s best team on its home court, a place it hasn’t lost all season, and slays the dragon, both figuratively and literally.
It would have been an inspirational movie for the ages.
Instead, Detroit, the NBA’s worst team, found itself in another horror film, but this one had a sick, sick twist.
GO DEEPER
How the Pistons, one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, cratered
The Pistons fell to the Celtics on Thursday night, 128-122, in overtime after leading by 19 points at halftime. The franchise is now tied for the longest losing streak in NBA history (over two seasons) at 28. Detroit didn’t do anything particularly different through the first 24 minutes. Cade Cunningham made shots like he has been, the defense was OK and the Pistons still turned the ball over way too much. Boston, though, shot a horrid 39 percent from the field and 17 percent from 3 while turning the ball over 10 times. It was the first time in a long time that it felt like an opposing team shot poorly against Detroit.
Once the Celtics tied the game to end the third quarter, it was a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. The Pistons briefly trailed by six points late in the fourth quarter but showed some poise late in the game to not crumble in crunch time like thy have most of the season.
Detroit had several opportunities to take a lead with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks — both of whom shoot better than 38 percent from 3 for their careers — missed multiple wide-open looks.
GO DEEPER
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The Celtics had a two-point lead with 4.8 seconds left when Bogdanovic cleaned up a Cunningham missed 3-point attempt. Tatum missed a shot at the end of regulation that led to overtime.
In the extra period, Boston looked like a team that has played in intense moments before, making shots and playing without mistakes. The Pistons shot under 40 percent from the field and were 1-for-6 from 3.
Detroit will face the Raptors, at home, on Saturday to try and avoid loss No. 29.
Required reading
(Photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images)
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
