Even the most pessimistic Philadelphia sports fan didn’t predict this for the 76ers before the season. The team has lost nine in a row and 11-of-12, it sits 3.5 games out of even the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, and its former MVP is out with a chronic knee issue that also clouds his and the team’s future.

In the end, Jalen Brunson sealed the deal by scoring 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter. The first go-around for the newly podcast-less Paul George was promising but nonetheless ended in a loss. Putting aside his show was an effort to make the most of his first season with the 76ers, of which there is still a month and change left.

In the latest edition of the power rankings, the Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to struggle, while the Detroit Pistons are surging.