It was just last season that the Detroit Pistons lost 28 games in a row. That is the longest losing streak within a single season in NBA history. Detroit’s 14-68 record was their worst in team history, and Monty Williams was fired after just one year as the team’s head coach.
Despite the Pistons lengthy stretch without a win, the Washington Wizards finished with just one more win at 15-67. Detroit has at least shown improvement this season with a 9-13 record. The Wizards can’t say likewise. Washington is currently now halfway to the Pistons NBA record losing streak. The Wizards now have a losing streak of 14, and none of them have been in nail-biter fashion.
Wizards Stretch Of Non-Competitive Losses Has Never Been Seen
Wizards Losing Streak Hits 14
On Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Wizards by the score of 124-114. It was Washington’s 14th straight loss since starting the season 2-2. Their last win came on October 30 against the Atlanta Hawks. The loss to Milwaukee ensured that the Wizards went the entire month of November without a win.
On Saturday, OptaSTATS provided a tweet that showed how dismal Washington has been during their losing streak. They tweeted that the Wizards are the only team in NBA history to lose 13 games in a row by at least nine points. They tweeted that before the Wizards 10-point loss to Milwaukee. It has now been stretched to 14 losses in a row by nine or more.
Entering tonight’s game, the Washington Wizards have lost 13 straight games, all by at least nine points.
That’s the most consecutive losses by 9+ points in a single season in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/RadtiuUN6f
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 30, 2024
The Wizards closest game during the losing streak was a 139-130 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on November 13. In order (least recent to most recent), their losses have come by 20, 13, 24, 27, 15, 12, 20, 28, 12, 12, 19, 25, and now 10.
To put into further perspective of how bad that is, exactly half of Detroit’s 28 straight losses saw them lose by nine points or less. As bad as their losing streak was, the Pistons at least kept the final score somewhat close way more often than the Wizards have.
The Wizards Are Within Striking Range Of Their Franchise Record
The Wizards ugly stretch have them just two losses away from tying their franchise record of 16 straight defeats. Three more losses in a row, and they will have a new team record. The franchise record has happened two times, once coming last season. Washington was unable to win a single game from January 31 until March 6, 2024. They also lost 16 in a row during the 2009-10 season.
The Wizards certainly will not be favored in any of their next three games. On Tuesday, they are on the road to play the Cleveland Cavaliers, owners of the league’s best record at 17-3. They then play two straight at home against teams from the Western Conference, on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks and Saturday against the Denver Nuggets.
While the Wizards are only halfway to Detroit’s record of ineptitude, the losses could continue to pile up quick and put them in striking range. While Washington wasn’t expected by anyone to battle for a playoff spot even in a down Eastern Conference, it is safe to say that head coach Brian Keefe at least expected them to be more competitive.
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