Five things to know in the NBA …
1. Detroit Pistons are now historically bad
Even though the Detroit Pistons have lost 27 games in a row, they have gotten some good performances from Cade Cunningham in some of these games.
On Tuesday, Cunningham scored 37 in the second half, 41 total, and shot 15 for 21 from the field, but it wasn’t enough to end the losing streak, as they fell to Brooklyn 118-112.
Bojan Bodanovic was the only other Pistons player with more than 15. Cunningham’s teammates shot 36.2% (25 for 69), including 28.6% (6 for 21) on 3-pointers.
Thursday night, the Pistons take on the Boston Celtics in Boston on NBA TV in a game that if they lose, they will tie the all-time consecutive losing streak at 28 games.
That would tie the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 28 straight starting at the end of the 2014-15 season and spilling over into 2015-16.
They could break the record at home Saturday against Toronto.
Detroit Pistons next two games
- Thursday at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
- Saturday vs. Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m. ET
2. Ja Morant effect on Memphis Grizzlies has been remarkable
Since Ja Morant has returned to the Memphis Grizzlies lineup, they have won four straight games. Two of those wins have come in New Orleans against the Pelicans.
Morant, who was named the NBA player of the week in his first week back, had 31 points and seven assists in the 116-115 overtime win Tuesday.
Since his return, Morant has scored 30 points three times, averaged 28.8 points, 8.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds and he’s shooting better than 50% from the floor.
3. New Orleans can’t close games and it’s starting to add up
The Pelicans led this game by as many as as 15 in the fourth quarter before falling apart. It has been the biggest issue with New Orleans all season.
The Pelicans have blown eight leads and lost in games leading by 10 or more points in the fourth quarter this season.
They’ve lost big leads in games. In the loss to the Grizzlies a week ago, they blew a 24-point lead.
New Orleans is 17-14 and has a roster that should be competitive in the Western Conference, but has nobody willing to take over a game late.
4. Andre Drummond was unstoppable, other big NBA performances
- Chicago’s Andre Drummond came alive in the Bulls 118-113 win over Atlanta Tuesday, with 24 points and 25 rebounds. Drummond, playing a backup role in Chicago, averaging around 13 minutes per game, had scored in double digits in a handful of games this season and no more than 12 points.
- De’Aaron Fox continues to be one of the most consistent producers in the NBA, scoring 43 points and shooting 62% from the field on Tuesday. His Sacramento Kings lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 130-113 to waste his night.
- Tyrese Haliburton, who was unstoppable in the month of November, had his first 30+ points game in December Tuesday with 33 points on 62% shooting in the Indiana Pacers’ 123-117 win against the Houston Rockets.
- It’s time we paid attention to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This third-place team in the West is no fluke. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 74% from the floor Tuesday and scored 34 points. He also had nine assists in the Thunder’s 129-106 take down of the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Lauri Markkanen is quietly having a fantastic season. He had 31 points, shot 72% from the field, and had 12 rebounds in the Utah Jazz’s 130-118 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
5. Old guy move of the night
Russell Westbrook was given up for dead after his terrible season with the Los Angeles Lakers. But this move against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday shows that Russ still has it.