Aussie’s big career-high cements future; strugglers break all-time losing record — NBA Wrap

Australia’s Duop Reath set a brand new career-high with 25 factors and 9 rebounds off the bench to additional cement his standing as an NBA-level participant in Portland’s win over Sacramento.

The South Sudanese-born Aussie, who took the lengthy highway to the large league and eventually debuted on November 12, performed 32 minutes within the 130-113 upset over one of many West contenders.

Reath went 9 of 15 taking pictures together with 3 of 6 from three, smashing his earlier career-high of 16 factors, and making it seven of 9 video games in double digits.

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PISTONS PLUMMET TO HISTORIC WORST

It is official. The Detroit Pistons now personal the longest single-season shedding streak in NBA historical past.

It began out promisingly for the Pistons, who took the lead after the primary quarter for the primary time in over a fortnight, however issues went downhill from there as Detroit have been defeated 118-112 by the Brooklyn Nets.

That was regardless of a 37-point second half from younger guard Cade Cunningham, who completed with 41 and added 9 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal and a block within the loss.

It marked Detroit’s twenty seventh straight defeat, surpassing the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers who had 26 consecutive defeats.

The 76ers maintain the NBA’s total document of 28 straight losses which spanned the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Detroit appears destined to no less than equal that document, with a date in opposition to the Eastern Conference main Boston Celtics subsequent on the schedule earlier than the Pistons host the Raptors on Sunday.

The Pistons jumped out to an early 9-1 lead, enjoying with loads of power as they attacked the rim with eight factors within the paint whereas out-rebounding the Nets 8-2.

Bojan Bogdanovic led the best way at that time with 4 factors whereas Jalen Duren had two factors and 4 rebounds in his first recreation again from an ankle harm.

Detroit was in a position to push the lead out to as a lot as 22-8 earlier than Brooklyn went on a 6-0 run, seeing the Pistons name a timeout.

The Pistons went into the second quarter forward 31-25, marking the primary time they’d led 1 / 4 since December 11 in opposition to the Pacers.

Indiana was in a position to outscore Detroit 33-25 within the second on the best way to a 131-123 win on that event and sadly for the Pistons historical past repeated itself because the Nets dominated the second quarter.

Brooklyn went on an early 12-2 run to take its first lead of the sport and didn’t let up, successful the interval 36-23 to take a 61-54 benefit into the third.

That was regardless of the Nets taking pictures solely 10 of 17 free throws within the half, making up for his or her struggles on the charity stripe by making 5 of 10 3-point makes an attempt.

Nic Claxton was significantly spectacular for Brooklyn on each ends within the opening half, placing up 9 factors to go together with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson, in the meantime, had 21 factors between them whereas the bench unit supplied priceless manufacturing to assist the Nets overcome a sluggish begin, combining for 20 factors.

Things didn’t look nice early within the third for Detroit and particularly Cunningham because the oblivious guard coughed up possession after a shot clock violation.

But Cunningham recovered to empty a deep 3-pointer after which knock down one other bucket that sparked a much-needed run for the Pistons, with a Duren steal and Jaden Ivey dunk seeing Detroit draw inside 71-67.

To their credit score, the Pistons have been in a position to keep up a correspondence with the Nets till the tip of the quarter even because it threatened to blow out as soon as extra, trailing 88-85 heading into the fourth.

The Pistons carried that momentum into the fourth as Cunningham and Bogdanovic mixed to attain 11 of Detroit’s first 13 factors within the quarter, taking a 97-92 lead within the course of.

A fast 13-0 run noticed Brooklyn leap forward 105-97 and Detroit was unable to get better regardless of some clutch Cunningham photographs, falling ultimately to droop to a twenty seventh straight loss.

Pistons coach Monty Williams had beforehand taken full accountability for Detroit’s shedding streak whereas crediting the enjoying group for its resilience within the face of adversity.

“I could sit here and say I don’t think about it, but it’s in my face. That’s on me. It’s not on the players,” Williams mentioned after the shedding skid hit 25 video games.

“Losing is awful in this league,” Williams added after the loss to Brooklyn final Sunday, marking the group’s twenty sixth straight defeat.

“And we’ve had a lot of it. I’m proud of the way that they just keep battling every night. Our guys don’t want to be a part of any kind of losing streak, whatever. But every day they come back with focus and drive and grit trying to win a game.”

That could also be difficult given, as Nets guard Thomas instructed YES Network final week, it’s attending to the purpose the place you don’t wish to be the group that lastly loses to Detroit.

“Everybody knows what’s going on in the NBA. It’s not a hidden secret. Obviously, you don’t want to be that team,” Thomas mentioned after Brooklyn’s first win of the double-header.

NBA SCORES – December 27 (AEDT)

Kings 113 – Trail Blazers 130

Jazz 130 – Spurs 118

Timberwolves 106 – Thunder 119

Grizzlies 116 – Pelicans 115 (OT)

Pacers 123 – Rockets 117

Hawks 113 – Bulls 118

Magic 127 – Wizards 119

Nets 118 – Pistons 112

Hornets 104 – Clippers 113