Sixers 21st Straight Loss Sets Terrible Franchise Record
On Monday the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Indiana Pacers on the road 99-90. Though there’s no shame in losing to the top team in the East, there is some shame in setting a new franchise-worst record with 21 consecutive losses.
The 76ers took an early lead in the game, but the Pacers, led by Lance Stephenson, were able to rally from the early deficit and push their opponent into the history books. Unfortunately it’s the kind of history no team wants to make.
These Sixers have now eclipsed the 1972-73 team, which lost 20-straight and finished 9-73 on the season. So epic is their skid into the gutter that it extends well beyond Philadelphia records and into the national discussion as one of the NBA’s all-time worst losing streaks.
Right now the Sixers are tied with the 1979-81 Detroit Pistons—the major difference being the Pistons’ streak carried over through two different seasons. There’s a three-way tie between the 1995-96 Memphis Grizzlies, 1997-98 Denver Nuggets, and 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats at 23-straight losses.
They’re just three losses behind the 1981-83 Cleveland Cavaliers and five behind the 2010-11 Cavs, who hold the NBA record for consecutive losses at 26.
In truth, the 76ers aren’t substantial worse than most the other divisional bottom-dwellers this season. In fact, 21 games ago they looked downright mediocre—a substantial step up from where they are now. They’ve just strung together far more losses than the rest—the Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz have the second longest active losing streaks at five.
Looking ahead at Philadelphia’s upcoming schedule, there’s a very real chance that they can make a run at the Cleveland’s low-water mark. This rebuilding team wasn’t expected to do much this season—they’ve definitely exceeded expectations in the worst possible way.
