Glenn Coleman
Dec 16, 2023 - 05:06

76ers, Pistons, franchise-record, 22nd straight loss, Spurs, Lakers, halt, 18-game skid

Embiid and Maxey lead 76ers to historic win, Spurs snap 18-game losing streak, and Knicks beat Suns with record-breaking performance.

The Philadelphia 76ers dominated the Detroit Pistons in their recent game, with Joel Embiid scoring 35 points and Tyrese Maxey adding 19. This win marked the Pistons' 22nd consecutive loss, breaking their franchise record. The Pistons' losing streak is the sixth-longest in NBA history, surpassing the record set in 1979-80 and 1980-81. The only teams with longer losing streaks in a single season are the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers, along with the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies, the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets, and the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats. The 76ers hold the overall record with 28 consecutive losses. The game also saw James Wiseman leading the Pistons with 20 points and Bojan Bogdanovic adding 17. The Detroit Pistons' overall record now stands at 2-23.

In a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs snapped an 18-game losing streak with a win. Devin Vassell scored 36 points, and Victor Wembanyama had 13 points and 15 rebounds. The Lakers, playing their third game in four nights, were short-handed, with LeBron James returning after missing the previous game due to injury. Anthony Davis sat out with a hip injury, and the Lakers were also without D'Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish. This victory marked San Antonio's first win since November 2 and broke the franchise's previous record of a 16-game losing streak.

The Washington Wizards secured a victory against the Indiana Pacers, snapping a six-game losing streak. Kyle Kuzma scored 31 points, Jordan Poole added 30, and Tyus Jones achieved his second career triple-double. The Wizards have only won twice in their last 17 games, with the other victory also coming against the Detroit Pistons, who now have 22 straight losses. The game also saw Corey Kispert adding 23 points for Washington and Tyrese Haliburton contributing 19 points and 11 assists for Indiana.

The New Orleans Pelicans held on to beat the short-handed Charlotte Hornets, extending their winning streak to three games. Jonas Valanciunas scored a season-high 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Zion Williamson had 21 points and 11 rebounds. C.J. McCollum scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pelicans outrebounded the Hornets 49-39. Terry Rozier scored 30 points, and Miles Bridges added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who fell to 4-9 at home. Charlotte was without starting center Mark Williams due to a back injury.

In a game against the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten in Boston this season with a 128-111 victory. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Payton Pritchard added 21 off the bench, and Jaylen Brown contributed 18 points. The Celtics have not lost at home in 20 regular-season games, dating back to March 5 of last season. Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Goga Bitadze had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic.

The Atlanta Hawks ended a season-worst five-game losing streak with a win over the Toronto Raptors, with Trae Young scoring 38 points and 11 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points, and Clint Capela scored a season-high 18 points and added 15 rebounds. The Hawks finished with 55 rebounds to Toronto's 32, bouncing back from their previous loss to the Raptors.

The Houston Rockets overcame an early double-digit deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, with Dillon Brooks scoring 24 of his 26 points in the second half. Fred VanVleet had 16 points and eight assists, and Alperen Sengun finished with 15 points for the Rockets. Desmond Bane led Memphis with 28 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 22 points and four blocks.

In a game against the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks secured a 139-122 victory, with Jalen Brunson scoring a career-high 50 points and hitting all nine of his 3-point shots. Julius Randle added 23 points for the Knicks. The Suns lost star guard Bradley Beal to an ankle injury in the first quarter and have now lost six of their last eight games. Kevin Durant scored 29 points for the Suns, and Devin Booker added 28.

These games marked significant victories, streaks, and records for the teams involved, showcasing the competitive nature of the NBA and the talent of its players.