All Good Things Must End: Pistons’ Historic Streak Snapped in Boston Thriller
I was geeked for this game — no other way to say it. I genuinely believed the Pistons wouldn’t let a moment like this slip through their fingers. But in the closing minutes, Boston threw everything at them, doing just enough to make sure Detroit’s magical run stopped at 13.
Every Pistons fan knew this day would eventually come… but wow, this one stings. Detroit’s unbelievable 13-game winning streak — a run nobody saw coming, not even the diehards — came to an end Wednesday night in a 117-114 heavyweight bout in Boston. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a late-night street fight at TD Garden that the Celtics survived by inches.
Yes, the streak is over.
No, the magic is not.
This team is 15-3, battle-tested, and absolutely for real.
🔥 STAT CAPSULE — PISTONS at CELTICS
Detroit Superlatives
- Cade Cunningham: 42 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast — superstar-level stuff
- Jalen Duren: 12 pts, 16 reb — another monster double-double
- Tobias Harris: 12 pts, 5 reb
- Duncan Robinson: 11 pts, 3 threes
- Players in Double Figures: 5
- Team Streak: 13 straight wins (tied franchise record)
Boston Highlights
- Jaylen Brown: 33 pts, 10 reb — relentless
- Derrick White: 27 pts — 11 points in final 4:30
- Celtics shot 47% from 3 (ouch!)
- Celtics improve to 10-8
Why Boston Survived
Give the Celtics credit — they were terrific. Jaylen Brown was a problem from the opening tip, and Derrick White’s closing stretch was pure “big-moment killer” energy. Boston played like a team absolutely determined to protect home court in an NBA Cup game.
The Brown–White combination was simply too much to overcome. Possession after possession, they buried threes, sliced into the lane, hit impossible shots, and refused — flat-out refused — to fade. I kept waiting for the heater to cool off, hoping they’d finally miss one of those daggers… but they weren’t interested in granting any favors.
And in the end, they did just enough to keep the Pistons from standing alone atop franchise history — as the sole owner of the longest winning streak ever. So for now, they rest in the record books, along side the Bad Boys and Goin’ To Work Pistons— not bad company if you ask me.
The Call That Led to the Final Free Throws
This game was a dogfight, back and forth all evening. Then came the controversy that could have changed the game’s outcome.
With about nine seconds left, Cade took the inbound pass under Detroit’s own basket and exploded up the left sideline, full speed and totally locked in. As he approached half-court, he was grabbed and bumped by two Boston defenders. Watching it live and again on replay, it looked like the foul came before he went into his shooting motion — I figured Detroit would inbound the ball and get one more look.
But the officials ruled otherwise.
They said Cade was already stepping into his shooting motion and awarded him three free throws.
TD Garden erupted in boos. Boston fans lost their minds.
Suddenly, Cade Cunningham was standing at the free-throw line with the entire streak — and the entire game — in his hands. We’ll get to that in a moment.
Cade Cunningham: Superstar Certified
Cade Cunningham: A Superstar, Even in Heartbreak
To me, the only people who could possibly doubt Cade Cunningham’s superstardom are the ones not watching this version of him.
He torched Boston for 42 points, scoring from every level and dragging Detroit back into the game possession after possession.
Then came the free throws.
Shot 1: Pure. Perfect. All net.
Shot 2: It rattled in — still good, but not the same crisp stroke.
And right then, the pressure felt enormous.
That little wobble on the second shot made the whole moment feel heavier. The crowd was deafening. The building was shaking. And I had that gut feeling — this third one is going to be the tough one.
Shot 3: It rimmed out.
Agonizing? Absolutely.
Defining? Not even close.
Cade was the best player on the floor, by miles.
A Team to Enjoy, A Streak to Remember
What a ride this has been. Every night during this streak, the drama ramped up, the buzz grew louder, and the Pistons kept finding new ways to win. But for me, the most enjoyable part hasn’t been the numbers — it’s been watching this team truly gel.
I’ll admit it: early in the season, I was skeptical. Losing Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway felt like too much outgoing talent for what Detroit brought in. Add the off-court problems of Malik Beasley, whose future is still undetermined, and I questioned whether the additions would balance things out or leave this roster with gaps.
But as the wins stacked up, something became obvious:
This group fits.
Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, and Javonte Green have been revelations — not just filling roles, but elevating the entire rotation. They’ve given Detroit a more balanced, more versatile, and honestly more enjoyable lineup than last year’s version.
And then there’s Jalen Duren.
A season ago, he was a rebounding monster who occasionally flashed scoring upside. Now? He’s a nightly stat-stuffer. Reliable. Physical. Confident. He’s transforming into the type of two-way anchor contenders thrive on.
As a lifelong Pistons fan — someone who lived through the Bad Boys and the Goin’ to Work era — this run hit differently. I’ve watched this young core closely these past couple of seasons, and they’ve grown on me. I root for these guys, because they’ve earned it. They’ve earned Detroit’s time, attention, and belief.
And that’s why tying the legendary streaks of the ’89 Bad Boys and the ’04 champions feels so special. Those teams weren’t just good — they were identity setters. Seeing this group sit alongside that kind of history brings back a swagger and belief that’s been missing for far too long.
This isn’t last year’s team.
This isn’t the slump from two years ago.
This is a contender — and they’re only just getting started.
A New Streak Starts Friday
And with the end of one streak, a new one can start in a couple of days.
The Pistons are back home Friday night for another NBA Cup game vs. the Magic, a young, fast, hungry squad that will test Detroit’s discipline.
The streak may be over…
but the ride is far from finished.
Let’s start a new run.
Did you think Cade was going to nail those three free throws and send the game into overtime? Drop a comment below, or join the conversation in the Pistons Hardwood Hub — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
