rewrite this content and keep HTML tags BOSTON — A somber Detroit Pistons locker room summarized the team’s frustration with failing to notch the longest win streak in franchise history Wednesday.The Pistons were a bad bounce on a Cade Cunningham free throw away from 14 consecutive wins. Though their disdain with the moment was warranted, there was also a collective understanding that the most important aspect of Wednesday’s 117-114 loss to the Boston Celtics is how they rebound from it.Although Detroit (15-3) came up short of 14 straight, this still ties the franchise’s best start through 18 games. On top of that, the Pistons remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. What matters most is how Detroit pushes forward.“We all wanted it tonight,” Cunningham told reporters. “We all wanted 14 wins; I’m not going to act like it doesn’t mean anything to us. It was a big deal. We all wanted to be on that side of history. But it didn’t happen. I can’t go back. I can’t shoot the free throw again. We can’t get up (to defend) 3s again.
“The game’s over with. So, it’s about how we’re going to respond. There’s a lot of season left to accomplish a lot of great things. That’s where our minds are at. We’re not worried about the past anymore. We’re moving forward and trying to be the best basketball team we can be.”Cunningham was straightforward when discussing Detroit’s desire not to dwell on defeat. He finished with a game-high 42 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block. Cunningham shot 12-of-26 from the field, 4-of-9 from 3-point range and 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.Though the initial sting of defeat is necessary, especially given the Pistons allowed the Celtics to shoot 46.5 percent from behind the arc on 43 attempts, they have no choice but to regroup and refocus.“We understand it’s one game,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “And we understand, also, we didn’t play our best basketball. There were things we could’ve done better, and we still put ourselves in position to have a shot at it at the end of the game.“Hopefully, we’re not as good now as we will be in April. That’s always our goal; it’s to continue to get better and better. And you learn lessons along the way.”This was a lesson the Pistons would have preferred to learn as they continued to push their streak forward, but perspective is necessary when evaluating a loss like this. Rather than feeling frustration surrounding a 28-game losing streak, Detroit has now become so accustomed to early-season wins, its disappointment lies in not setting a new franchise record.And to Bickerstaff’s point, this could be a lesson that catapults the Pistons to being in their best form when the games mean the most later in the season.This story will be updated.
