Guard Mike Conley scored a game-high 20 points as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated Philadelphia 92-84 Sunday, sending the 76ers to their 18th consecutive loss to begin the NBA season.
“Hats off to them. That can’t be an easy situation to be in. They kept fighting,” said Memphis coach David Joerger of Philadelphia.
The 76ers tied the NBA’s all-time mark for most losses to begin a season, set in 2009 by the New Jersey Nets.
It was Philadelphia’s 28th straight loss dating back to last season, the longest losing skid by a team in any major North American sport.
As has happened several times during the streak, the 76ers couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead.
They went up 76-71 on a pair of free throws from guard Isaiah Canaan at the 7:38 mark. However, the Grizzlies went on an 18-3 run to go up 89-79 as Jeff Green buried a three-pointer at the 2:22 mark.
Zach Randolph finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis centre Marc Gasol had nine points and 12 rebounds.
Forward Matt Barnes came off the bench to chip in 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
SUNS SNAP LOSING SKID
Guard Eric Bledsoe scored 17 points and added 11 assists and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-102.
Bledsoe made two key free throws with two minutes to play as the Suns snapped a four-game losing streak.
Guard DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and had seven assists for the Raptors, who had their four-game winning streak halted.
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who had 17 points, hit three free throws with 13.2 seconds to play to pull the Raptors to within two points.
With 12.3 seconds left, Bledsoe made of two free throws but the Raptors could not make their shot at the other end. Bledsoe iced the game with two free throws.
MAGIC ABOVE .500 MARK
Reserve guard Victor Oladipo had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in leading the Orlando Magic to a 110-91 victory over the Boston Celtics at Amway Centre.
It was their third consecutive victory. The Magic are above the .500 mark going into December for the first time since 2012.
Magic centre Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with just over two minutes left.
Forward Tobias Harris had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Reserve forward Andrew Nicholson had 14 points and eight rebounds.
© AFP
