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A14 SPORTS
Saturday 30 december 2023

Amid 28-game losing streak, Detroit showed it can compete with

NBA’s best

By JIMMY GOLEN from 1942-45, have had a
AP Sports Writer longer losing streak.
BOSTON (AP) — Detroit “I’m not interested in just
coach Monty Williams has winning one more game
believed it for a while, and this year you know what
now he has proof: The Pis- I mean? To stop this. That
tons can compete with would be soft, in my opin-
anybody in the NBA. ion,” Cunningham said.
And, he can only hope, “Our goals are a lot higher
the wins will come soon than that. We have what it
enough. The Pistons takes to win a game, that’s
opened a 21-point lead nothing. But to put games
over the league-best Celt- together, to find our system,
ics on Thursday night, forc- find what’s clicking and al-
ing overtime before Boston low us to sustain winning.
pulled out a 128-122 victory That’s all we’re looking for.”
and sent Detroit to an NBA Kristaps Porzingis had eight
record-tying 28th loss in a of his season-high 35 points
row. “As bad as they hurt in a 10-0 run that turned
right now, I hurt for them,” a four-point deficit into a
Williams said. “But I told 106-100 Boston lead in the
them: `If we bring that kind final two minutes of regula-
of toughness and execu- tion. Jaden Ivey scored six
tion minus the turnovers Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) return to the straight points for Detroit
we’re not just going to win court during the fourth quarter of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on to tie it. Then, after Jayson
one game. We’re going to Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Detroit. Tatum was credited with
put something together.’” Associated Press a layup on a replay-con-
It was the first time all sea- all these teams were play- that in my life, going into a to 2-29 and matched the firmed goaltending call,
son the Pistons led by more ing against,” said Detroit basketball game,” he said. “Trust the Process” Philadel- Bojan Bogdanovic made a
than 20 points, and the first guard Cade Cunningham, “So every game we should phia 76ers with the 28 con- putback on Cunningham’s
time they had gotten to who had 31 points and nine be able to fight teams and secutive losses; the Pistons missed 3 to send it to OT.
overtime in the two months assists but missed a poten- impose our will on them. We need a victory at home Derrick White scored 10 of
since their last win. Detroit tial winning 3-pointer at the did that early on. We kind against Toronto on Satur- his 23 points in the extra pe-
has also lost to Miami by end of regulation. of let go of the rope a little day night to avoid break- riod and Porzingis had six in
one point, Milwaukee by “There’s no team that I’ve bit in the third quarter. But ing the NBA record for lon- the overtime dunking after
two and defending cham- ever come across in the there’s a lot of growth, and gest losing streak.In major a full-court pass from Tatum
pion Denver by four points NBA where I felt like I was something we can learn North American sports, only and then sinking a pair of
this season. going into a slaughter- from and definitely take to the NFL’s Chicago Cardi- free throws to make it 125-
“We’re on the same level as house. I’ve never felt like the next game.” Detroit fell nals, who lost 29 straight 117.q

Rafael Nadal is trying to be realistic ahead of his 1st tournament in

a year at Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — a lot of pressure on himself ment in more than a year. Open crown beginning four-hour final.
Rafael Nadal is not putting ahead of his first tourna- The 37-year-old Spanish Jan. 14 in Melbourne. Thirteen years later, after
lefthander is set to return at “It’s impossible to think six months sidelined with a
the Brisbane International about winning tourna- foot injury, he came from
next week after almost a ments today,” he said. two sets behind to beat
year out with a hip injury. “What’s really possible is Daniil Medvedev in the fi-
The 22-time Grand Slam sin- to enjoy the comeback. nal.
gles champion’s last match I don’t expect much one “I still don’t know,” he said
was a second-round loss at year without being on the of how he won that 2009
the Australian Open in Jan- court.” title. “Before the match it
uary, and Nadal eventually But he was quick to men- was impossible to imag-
decided to have surgery tion his Melbourne Park ine myself winning that
on his troublesome hip in wins when prompted, two match.”
June. against-the-odds titles won Nadal has said 2024 is
Thousands queued for a in 2009 and 2022 that set “probably going to be my
glimpse of Nadal on Friday aside the current world No. last year on the profession-
at a fan appearance in 672’s low expectations. al tour.”
downtown Brisbane when In 2009 he outlasted coun- But he said he was encour-
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a ball into the crowd during a public Nadal was keen to play tryman Fernando Verdasco aged by his fitness, confess-
appearance in the Queen Street Mall ahead of the Brisbane down the prospect of a ti- over five hours in the semi- ing he feels “much better
International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, tle in the Queensland state final before beating Roger than what I expected a
Dec. 29, 2023. capital or a third Australian Federer two days later in a month ago.”q
Associated Press