Detroit, MI- Seems like just yesterday when the Philadelphia 76ers had the worst record in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons are hot on their trail for that distinguished honor as they lost their 12th straight game to the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-94 Sunday evening at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Reigning MVP Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder with 28 points and made mincemeat of any Pistons player who dared to guard throughout the game. Guard Russell Westbrook added 22 points and seven assists for the Thunder including a monstrous dunk over Pistons forward Josh Smith in the fourth quarter. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the way for the Pistons with 19 points and center Andre Drummond added 16 to go along with nine rebounds.
The Pistons, who are known to be one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league, were shown up by the undersized Thunder, giving up 16 offensive rebounds while only grabbing eight. They were outrebounded 50-39 and most of that was due to Josh Smith and Andre Drummond being in foul trouble early in the first half allowing the Thunder to attack the paint with relative ease. Pistons forward Greg Monroe struggled for the Pistons, scoring only 12 points shooting 3-7 from the floor and turning it over four times. This is the longest losing streak for the Pistons since the 1993-1994 season where they lost 14 in a row, they also lost 14 in a row way back in the 1979-1980 season, two season before they drafted Hall-of-Famer Isiah Thomas.
The Pistons had a chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds as Brandon Jennings was able to get the steal and turn it up court and found a wide open Josh Smith. Smith however, is a career 27% three-point shooter and barely hit the rim drawing loud boos from the crowd they have grown tired of the forward inability to knock down open shots and his frequency in taking those shots. The Pistons were again without Jodie Meeks who I still recovering from back surgery and is expected to make his season debut sometime this month. Thunder forward Mitch McGary received a warm reception from the Palace crowd as he took the floor for warmups. McGary has not played this season because of a foot injury and is best known for helping the Michigan Wolverines basketball team make it to the NCAA title game back in 2013.
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