NBA Cup 2025: Celtics snap Pistons' 13-game win streak, setting up Magic for group-deciding game vs. Detroit
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The Celtics stopped the Pistons on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

The penultimate night of group play in the 2025 NBA Cup started with a streak-snapping thriller.

In the first game Wednesday, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-114 to end a 13-game win streak. With the Pistons now 2-1 in Group B, they will have a winner-take-all game against the Orlando Magic for the knockout round berth on Friday.

The game saw 15 different lead changes in Boston, with the Celtics pulling ahead for the final time on a Jaylen Brown and-1. 

AND ONE ☝️ pic.twitter.com/716grLzOt9

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 27, 2025

That lead was endangered when the Celtics tried to foul Cade Cunningham with 3.8 seconds left while up three, attempting to guarantee only two free throws on the possession. Cunningham, however, began his shooting motion once the Boston defense bore down on him and drew three potentially game-tying free throws.

He made the first one, made the second one and missed the third one. Ballgame, Celtics.

CADE CUNNINGHAM MISSED THE FT NOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/yWujQhyc9C

— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) November 27, 2025

Had the Pistons won, they would have set a new franchise record with 14 consecutive wins. 

NBA Cup scoreboard

NBA Cup standings

East Group A

  • Toronto Raptors (3-0, +53)*

  • Cleveland Cavaliers (2-1, +34)

  • Atlanta Hawks (1-2, -11)

  • Washington Wizards (1-2, -44)

  • Indiana Pacers (0-2, -31)

East Group B

  • Orlando Magic (3-0, +61)

  • Detroit Pistons (2-1, +24)

  • Boston Celtics (2-2, -17)

  • Brooklyn Nets (1-2, -17)

  • Philadelphia 76ers (0-3, -51)

East Group C

  • Milwaukee Bucks (2-0, +16)

  • Miami Heat (2-1, +46)

  • New York Knicks (1-1, -2)

  • Chicago Bulls (1-2, -42)

  • Charlotte Hornets (0-2, -18)

West Group A

  • Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0, +63)

  • Phoenix Suns (2-0, +23)

  • Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1, +53)

  • Sacramento Kings (0-2, -45)

  • Utah Jazz (0-3, -94)

West Group B

  • Los Angeles Lakers (3-0 +36)*

  • Los Angeles Clippers (2-1, -9)

  • Memphis Grizzlies (1-1, +9)

  • Dallas Mavericks (1-2, -13)

  • New Orleans Pelicans (0-3, -17)

West Group C

  • Denver Nuggets (2-1, +26)

  • San Antonio Spurs (1-1, +10)

  • Portland Trail Blazers (2-1, -18)

  • Golden State Warriors (1-2, -28)

  • Houston Rockets (1-2, +10)

* = clinched group title



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