Sixers’ losing streak reaches 22 games
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PHILADELPHIA — D.J Augustin scored 20 points and Taj Gibson had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 102-94 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, handing the 76ers their 22nd straight loss.
The Sixers are four losses shy of matching the NBA record for longest-single season losing streak.
The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2010-11 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) each lost 23 straight.
The Sixers also lost their 17th straight home game since beating Charlotte on Jan. 15.
After the Sixers were 3-0 following a Nov. 2 win over Chicago, fans held signs that said, “3-0. That’s No Bull.”
That seems like another season at times after the Sixers traded Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen at the deadline for draft picks, a necessary step for a rebuilding franchise.
Celtics 101, Heat 96
BOSTON — Rajon Rondo hit two running baseline shots in the last two minutes and the Boston Celtics capitalized on the absence of LeBron James to beat the Miami Heat.
One night after scoring 43 points in a 100-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, James sat out the game with back spasms and the Heat lost for the first time in their three games without him this season.
Rondo finished with 9 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds as Boston stopped a five-game losing streak. Avery Bradley led Boston with 23 points and had career highs of six 3-point baskets and nine 3-point attempts. Brandon Bass added 18 points.
The Heat, which had won its previous two games after losing five of six, was led by Wade with 17 points, Chris Andersen with 16 and Ray Allen and Udonis Haslem with 14 each.
With the score tied, Jeff Green hit a 3-pointer that put the Celtics ahead 97-94 with 2:32 remaining. Then Rondo, who had missed four of his six shots, banked the ball in from the right with 1:44 to go. Wade converted an offensive rebound, cutting the lead to 99-96 with 1:32 left.
Each team missed a shot before Rondo connected again on a short shot with 18.7 seconds to play.
It capped an impressive comeback after one of the NBA’s best teams had built a 14-point lead early in the second quarter. Boston outscored Miami 48-37 in the second half.
Nets 104, Bobcats 99
NEW YORK — Deron Williams scored 23 points, Joe Johnson added 20 and the Brooklyn Nets overcame a late deficit to win their 10th straight at home, beating the Charlotte Bobcats.
Williams scored 11 of his points in the final six minutes.
Al Jefferson scored 18 points for Charlotte and Gary Neal added 17.
After Josh McRoberts’ dunk and free throw gave the Bobcats an 85-82 lead, Williams hit a driving layup with 6:00 left, then a 3-pointer on the next possession. He followed that with a steal and two free throws to give the Nets an 89-85 lead with 5:22 remaining.
Brooklyn never trailed again, but when Charlotte pulled to within 98-95 Williams hit a foul line jumper with 37 seconds left and Brooklyn closed it out from the foul line.
Grizzlies 96, Jazz 86
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach Randolph scored 21 points, Marc Gasol added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies maintained their hold on a Western Conference playoff spot with a victory over the Utah Jazz.
Gasol and Randolph each had 10 rebounds as Memphis won its eighth straight home game and fifth straight over the Jazz. Mike Conley finished with 18 points and seven assists, and Tony Allen scored 10 points.
Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke and Alec Burks each scored 16 points for Utah, while Enes Kanter had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Jazz lost their sixth straight and 11th of their last 12.
Raptors 107, Pelicans 100
NEW ORLEANS — DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points, Greivis Vasquez victimized his former team with six points in the last two minutes, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans.
Kyle Lowry scored 23, Amir Johnson added 17 and Vasquez finished with 14 to help Toronto overcome a 14-point first-half deficit and snap a two-game skid. Tyler Hansbrough, playing additional minutes with starting center Jonas Valanciunas sidelined by a sore back, grabbed 13 rebounds, seven on the offensive end.
