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Pistons set NBA record for longest playoff losing streak

Brian Sevald / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Detroit Pistons made NBA history on Monday night - for all the wrong reasons.

Falling 127-104 to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of their first-round series, the Pistons were not only eliminated from the playoffs in a clean sweep but also took possession of the Association's longest postseason losing streak of all time at 14 games.

Detroit's skid began in Game 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals and continued with a pair of sweeps courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 and 2016. Detroit tied the New York Knicks' record of 13 games (2001-12) on Saturday with a 119-103 blowout loss in Game 3.

Longest Playoff Losing Streaks

Team Streak Start Finish Years
Detroit Pistons 14 2007-08 Active 7
New York Knicks 13 2000-01 2011-12 11
Memphis Grizzlies 12 2003-04 2010-11 14
Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets 12 2001-02 2015-16 N/A

The Pistons lost all four games of the opening round by an average of nearly 24 points. Blake Griffin missed the first two road outings at Fiserv Forum with a sore knee.

Milwaukee now advances to the second round for a clash with the Boston Celtics.

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