Five things to know in the NBA …
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.
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.
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.
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.