Just 22 games into the NBA regular season, the Detroit Pistons’ campaign is already considered a lost cause by most basketball pundits, and betting odds suggest the team is in for a long final 60 games.
After starting 2-1, the Pistons have lost 19 consecutive games. Of those 19 defeats, 10 have come by double digits. Detroit has been outscored by an average of 10.2 points per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA behind only the 3-18 San Antonio Spurs, who have been outscored by 12.1 points per game.
Odds across multiple sports betting apps suggest the Pistons’ losing streak may grow to 20 games on Monday night, where Detroit is a 7-point home underdog against Indiana, according to FanDuel. BetMGM, BetRivers, and PointsBet list the Pistons as 7.5-point underdogs against the 12-8 Pacers.
The longest losing streak in NBA history belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 28 consecutive games across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The longest losing streak within one season belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers (2010-11) and 76ers (2013-14), who each dropped 26 games in a row.
Plus odds to reach 20 wins
FanDuel gives the Pistons at +128 odds to finish with 20 or more victories this season. Even the aforementioned Spurs have -375 odds to hit 20 wins.
Detroit has +570 odds on FanDuel to hit 25 wins on the season. The Pistons are winning 9.1% of their games, which would be the lowest mark in NBA history if they keep it up over the full 82-game season. The 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats won just 10.6% of their games, which is the current record for futility.
Detroit’s playoff chances are all but dashed, with FanDuel not even listing odds for Detroit to make the postseason. FanDuel has Detroit at +25000 to win the Central Division, which would take a monumental effort to overtake the 15-7 Milwaukee Bucks, among others.
As for winning the NBA title, FanDuel lists the Pistons at +100000 to win the championship. Caesars Sportsbook gives Detroit even longer odds, listing the Pistons at +200000 to win the NBA title this year.
On the upside, the team’s 19-game losing streak has fans looking ahead to the 2024 NBA Draft, which could leave Detroit with another young talent capable of returning the formerly successful franchise to its winning ways.
Photo: Chris Schwegler/Getty Images
