Philadelphia 76ers set professional record for consecutive losses

Another game, another loss for the Philadelphia 76ers.

In dropping their latest contest 116-114 to the Houston Rockets, the Sixers dropped to 0-17 on the season. Worse yet, the 76ers have lost 27 straight games dating to last season, setting the record for the longest losing streak in major U.S. professional sports history.

Sixers fans can at least take solace in the fact that their team’s 0-17 start is only the second worst mark to begin the season, behind the New Jersey Nets, who began the 2009 season with 18 straight losses.

However, in losing their 27^th game in a row, the 76ers passed NFL’s 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for losing futility, a record that was also matched by the 76ers in 2013-14.

This latest loss to the Rockets is considerably heartbreaking, considering the 76ers came tantalizingly close to stealing a victory.

Faced with an 11-point deficit to begin the fourth quarter, the 76ers opened with a 24-8 run that gave them a five-point advantage.

However, with the game in the balance, it was last season’s MVP runner-up James Harden that took over the game and sealed the 76ers’ fate.

Harden dropped a game-high 50 points to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists, shooting 14-for-28 from the field and 16-for-20 at the free throw line. It was his third career game with 50-plus points.

The 76ers, led by Robert Covington’s 28 points and eight steals, did everything but win.

“A time's going to come where we finally put everything together and come up with a victory,” Covington said.

The 76ers will have the dubious honor of matching the Nets’ 0-18 record when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.