The Detroit Pistons tied the record for the NBA's longest losing streak at 28 with a 128-122 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on December 28, 2023.
The Pistons snapped the losing streak on December 30, 2023, when they beat the Toronto Raptors 129-127 at home.
The Philadelphia 76ers are the team tied with the Pistons for the longest losing streak in league history. That streak began 10 games before end of the 2014/15 season and finally ended after 18 games in the 2015/16 campaign.
The Pistons' recent streak began with a 124-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 30, 2023.
Detroit nearly ended their losing streak - and the Celtics' perfect home record this season - as they sent the game into overtime. It was their first overtime game of the season, but the gulf in quality between the two teams showed after regulation when the Celtics pulled away to win by six.
The Pistons have another losing streak in the top 10 in league history. They lost 21 consecutive games between the 1979/80 and 1980/81 seasons. By 1990, they had two NBA Championships.
Team | Games Lost | Date Started | Date Ended |
Philadelphia 76ers | 28 | March 27, 2015 | December 1, 2015 |
Detroit Pistons | 28 | October 30, 2023 | N/A |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 26 | December 20, 2010 | February 11, 2011 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 26 | January 31, 2014 | March 29, 2014 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 24 | March 19, 1982 | November 10, 1982 |
Vancouver Grizzlies | 23 | February 16, 1996 | April 3, 1996 |
Denver Nuggets | 23 | December 9, 1997 | January 24, 1998 |
Charlotte Bobcats | 23 | March 19, 2012 | November 2, 2012 |
Detroit Pistons | 21 | March 7, 1980 | October 25, 1980 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 20 | January 9, 1973 | February 14, 1973 |
New York Knicks | 20 | March 23, 1985 | November 12, 1985 |
Dallas Mavericks | 20 | November 13, 1993 | December 23, 1993 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 20 | April 18, 1994 | December 7, 1994 |
Houston Rockets | 20 | February 6, 2021 | March 22, 2021 |