INDIANAPOLIS — The 2025-26 Detroit Pistons became the third team in franchise history to have a 13-game winning streak. They tied the franchise record Monday night with a 122-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Despite leaving Gainbridge Fieldhouse with their streak intact, they appeared slightly irate.
“It’s not like we have been like, ‘We need to get the best winning streak in Pistons’ history.’ None of us has been thinking like that,” Cade Cunningham said. “We just want to be the best versions of ourselves, and (Monday) night was not the best version of us.”
The Pistons once held a 19-point lead and were on the verge of a blowout win until the Pacers started to regain their rhythm in the second half.
Indiana kept nipping at Detroit’s double-digit lead and came within 117-115 with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Pistons survived a collapse due to the late-game dagger from Cunningham, who scored on a post-up floater on the next offensive possession.
The nightly pursuit of perfection is an example of how the Pistons strive to meet their standards; however, their drive also illustrates the team’s quest to meet the intangible requirements it takes to solidify itself as a championship contender.
“This team has been built in a similar mode to the Bad Boy Pistons, and then, the Pistons of my era there (Goin’ to Work) on physicality, toughness and depth. They are a mirror image of the personality of the city,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
“They have great coaching with J.B. and a great staff. They are making a pretty clear statement that they are for real. To win (13) in a row when everyone is playing their butts off, that’s strong. They are in a very good position.”
The majority of the Pistons’ core is still relatively young and is navigating the expectations that come with being a championship contender for the first time. But just as they did last season to help lift the franchise out of an abyss, the Pistons will once again look to the veterans who have competed on teams with championship aspirations.
Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson learned what it takes to compete on a championship contender during their respective times prior to joining the Pistons.
Harris’ experience stems from his six years with the Philadelphia 76ers. Although they did not meet their goals, he learned that competing as a contender requires attention to detail, preparation, and professionalism — four attributes that align with the Pistons’ current standards.
“Obviously, we did not get as far as we wanted, but at the same time, you get the chance to learn a lot through the process,” Harris told The Detroit News.
“But this is a totally different environment and group of guys. Last year, we got a taste of what winning feels like and how we can be successful as a group. We talked about it all summer and came into the season with the mindset and the mentality to be better. For us, it’s the camaraderie, chemistry and spirit that we embraced.”
Throughout Tobias Harris’ time with the Sixers, the team was consistently viewed as the top contender to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals; however, Philadelphia did not even advance to the Conference Finals.
Robinson came to Detroit as one of a few players who understood how to handle the pressure of a contender. He played a crucial role during his seven years with the Miami Heat, contributing to the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023.
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Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) gets a basket on a dunk against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Although the Heat came up short against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their Finals appearances, Robinson learned the same lessons as Harris.
“Any good team has a common threat that runs through it. The biggest one I’ve seen in this group that was similar to Miami was the pride on the defensive end,” Robinson said to The Detroit News. “It’s the knowing of whatever happens on the offensive end, down the stretch, if you can find a way to get stops, you can win the game.”
The Pistons continue to create separation from their Eastern Conference counterparts, sitting atop the conference at 15-2. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the second-place Toronto Raptors, who have won eight consecutive games.
Despite having the league’s longest winning streak, the Pistons entered the week ranked fourth in NBA.com‘s power rankings. The Denver Nuggets (13-4) and Houston Rockets (11-4) were ranked second and third, respectively, while the Oklahoma City Thunder (17-1) held the top spot.
The Pistons are no longer at the bottom of the league, but continue to seek respect, proving that they are a legitimate team that can win the Larry O’Brien trophy by late June.
“We gotta stay hungry, we cannot start getting above ourselves and act like we have everything figured out,” Cunningham said. “It is a long season. One game could send you into a spiral, and we have seen that before. We have to stay hungry. We have to stay motivated. Finding ways to continue getting better, which is everything.”