Sixers’ skid reaches 23 games
First Posted:
PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers have fumbled their way toward the wrong kind of NBA history.
Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony scored 21 and the New York Knicks won their eighth straight game, 93-92 over Philadelphia on Friday night, sending the Sixers to their 23rd straight loss.
The Sixers have matched the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) for the second-longest single-season losing streak in NBA history.
The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2010-11 season.
The Sixers (15-54) would have to pull off an upset to avoid tying the record.
Up next, three straight road games at Chicago, San Antonio and Houston. If the Sixers lose all three, the potential record 27th loss would come March 29 vs. Detroit.
Heat 91, Grizzlies 86
MIAMI — Ray Allen scored 18 points to lead the Miami Heat to a comeback victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
LeBron James finished with 15 points, and Dwayne Wade and Mario Chalmers scored 14 points each for the Heat.
Zach Randolph scored 25 points and had 14 rebounds for Grizzlies. Marc Gasol finished with 14 points, but left with an ankle injury midway through the third quarter.
Pelicans 111, Hawks 105
ATLANTA — Anthony Davis had 34 points and 11 rebounds, New Orleans took the lead with a 12-0 run that began at the end of the third quarter and the Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks.
Tyreke Evans had 21 points for New Orleans, which completed a two-game sweep of the season series.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 26 points and eight assists. Paul Millsap had 20 points.
Nets 114, Celtics 98
NEW YORK — Joe Johnson hit six 3-pointers in his 27 points, Mason Plumlee added 18 points, and the Brooklyn Nets won their 11th straight at home, beating the Boston Celtics.
Former Celtic Paul Pierce had 14 points and Andray Blatche and Jorge Gutierrez added 10 apiece for the Nets.
Avery Bradley led Boston with 28 points and Rajon Rondo had 12 points and 12 assists.
Pacers 91, Bulls 79
INDIANAPOLIS — Luis Scola had 19 points and Lance Stephenson finished with 15 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a win over the Chicago Bulls.
DJ Augustin and Jimmy Butler each scored 17 points for the Bulls, who have lost two of their last three games.
Thunder 119, Raptors 118, 2 OTs
TORONTO — Kevin Durant had 51 points and 12 rebounds, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook limped off in the third quarter with a sprained right knee but the Oklahoma City Thunder survived to beat the Toronto Raptors.
Durant hit a go-ahead 3 with 1.7 seconds left in the second overtime, Reggie Jackson scored 25 and Serge Ibaka had 13 as the Thunder won their fourth straight and finished off a 3-0 road trip that also included wins at Chicago and Cleveland.
DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points and Amir Johnson had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry scored 25 and Greivis Vasquez fouled out after scoring 21.
