Even though it was inevitable that the Detroit Pistons would secure a victory, thereby ending their record losing streak.
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Even though it was inevitable that the Detroit Pistons would secure a victory, thereby ending their record losing streak, the feelings of satisfaction and gratification remained undiminished.
Claiming a 129-127 home victory against the undermanned Toronto Raptors on Saturday, the Pistons halted their 28-game losing streak. As they step into the new year, they will embark on a fresh start, appropriately, when they face the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Securing the victory marked the Pistons’ initial triumph in slightly over two months, harking back to their 118-102 win against the Chicago Bulls at home on October 28. That victory had propelled Detroit to a 2-1 start at the beginning of the season.
The challenges faced by the Pistons throughout their losing streak posed a comprehensive examination of their physical and mental resilience. Just two nights prior, they had come remarkably close to breaking the streak in an overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. Despite the Raptors exerting considerable pressure for the entire 48 minutes, the Pistons managed to summon the determination to secure the victory, prevailing until the final buzzer.
For the Rockets, Brooks (abdominal strain), Oladipo (knee injury), and Smith (ankle injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Pistons, Morris (muscle injury) and Stewart (toe injury) will be sitting this one out.
In addition to showcasing their resilience, the Pistons obtained validation that Cade Cunningham, selected as the top overall pick in the 2021 draft, is undeniably the cornerstone of their future. Cunningham delivered a stellar performance against the Raptors, tallying 30 points and 12 assists. Remarkably, he consistently excelled even in the face of successive defeats, maintaining averages of 23.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and seven assists throughout the challenging losing streak.
Facing a challenging stretch, the Rockets are grappling with a setback, dropping six of their last eight games and four out of five on their home turf after an impressive 11-game winning streak at Toyota Center. Their struggles persisted as they couldn’t capitalize on the absence of the NBA’s top scorer, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, in a 131-127 loss on Friday. This defeat underscored the impact of the missing starting forwards Dillon Brooks (oblique) and Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle).
In terms of 3-pointers made per game, Houston currently sits at the 19th spot with an average of 12.3. Lately, the discussion has revolved around the team’s inclination to shoot more from beyond the arc. In the recent matchup, the Rockets attempted three fewer 3-pointers than the 76ers, and the decision to forego open looks from the perimeter has impeded the offensive strides that the Rockets have been aiming to achieve.
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