“We never talked about it,” guard Cade Cunningham said of the streak. “We wanted to find our way to the top of the league. We’ve seen the bottom of the league before. It’s pretty cool that we had the worst streak in franchise history and now we have an opportunity to go have the greatest streak in franchise history. 

“We’re excited about the opportunity, but this is just a product of the work,” continued Cunningham, who led the effort with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. “This isn’t what we were going for; we still have bigger things to do.”

The mood was mellow afterward, in part, because what should’ve been a decisive win turned into a nailbiter. The Pistons led by 18 early in the fourth quarter before slipping defensively and allowing the Pacers to hit 11 of 21 shots (52.4%) to whittle it down to two points with under two minutes to play. 

They held on thanks to clutch work from Cunningham, who knocked down a hook to make it a two-possession game late, and a pair of clinching free throws from Caris LeVert. After the game, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he wants the team to be “greedier” in such moments and continue executing defensively. 

“I don’t want to be dismissive, and I understand what the accomplishment is and how rare and unique it is, obviously,” Bickerstaff said. “Our focus has to be on Wednesday, and then it’s gotta be on practice and film tomorrow. But that’s where we’ll focus. We don’t take it for granted by any means, because we know how difficult these things are to come by. We’ve gotta get to tomorrow.”

To sustain success, the team understands it has to value the process over results. 

“We’ve gotta stay hungry,” Cunningham said. “Can’t start feeling like we’re getting above ourselves or got everything figured out. It’s a long season. One game can send you in a spiral, we’ve seen that before.”

Even the most optimistic projections for the Pistons fell well short of where they currently are – and what they’re on pace to accomplish. They own the second-best record in the NBA, behind only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (at 17-1), thanks to their third-ranked defense and a roster improved both at the top and bottom. 

Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart are two of the league’s best defenders and spearhead a physical, stifling approach on that end of the floor. And the Pistons’ bench has revealed itself as one of the deepest in the league, allowing them to weather injuries to core players. 

Tobias Harris recently returned from a nine-game absence. LeVert has missed five, Thompson four, Cunningham and Stewart three apiece. Daniss Jenkins has been the best two-way contract player in the league – a legitimate NBA talent. Paul Reed and Javonte Green have maximized their limited roles. The Pistons have stacked wins with every healthy player contributing toward them. 

WELCOME BACK: Jaden Ivey has gratitude after return to Detroit Pistons from injury

There’s a maturity and confidence with this group, born of being tested by historic adversity two years ago and a physical six-game, first-round playoff exit against the New York Knicks in April. 

The Pistons are on the cusp of setting a franchise record with a 14th straight win; that can come when they face the Boston Celtics on the road Wednesday (5 p.m., ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). In a long season, the Pistons still have much to prove. But winning feels good, especially for the cohort of players who experienced the bottom two years ago. 

“We were talked bad about, we were the laughingstocks, and now that the tables have turned, everybody wants to be on this side,” Stewart said. “Everybody wants to be on the wagon and everybody wants to say great things about us. That’s a good thing, that’s a good thing. We’re not taking that lightly. All we’re doing is just keeping our heads down and taking it day by day.”

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The cold front moving in Wednesday morning ushers in stronger winds and colder air. NWS predicts the day will be breezy with gusts possibly reaching into the 30 to 40 mph range. The high should climb near 50 with a chance for a rain/snow mix then drop to lows around the upper 20s at night.

The transition from rain to snow signals that winter is starting to lean in.

“Wednesday night we have about at 40% to 50% chance of snow showers, dusting or accumulation is possible,” said Steve Considine, a meteorologist at the NWS’s Detroit office.

This Thanksgiving could also be colder and windier than last year, Considine said. NWS said Thursday and Friday will have a notable chill with readings between the mid 20s and upper 30s.

“Last year we had a high of 42 degrees and a few snow showers in the morning that didn’t amount to anything, so this Thanksgiving is going to be colder and windier in comparison to last year,” he said.