Over one season or two, no team in NBA history has lost as many games in a row as these Cleveland Cavaliers.
The surging Dallas Mavericks beat visiting Cleveland 99-96 on Monday night, making it 25 straight losses for the Cavs.
Cleveland already held the record for the most losses in a single season, but the league also keeps a record for losses spread over two seasons. This topped that one, too, making it the most consecutive losses in league history, period.
The previous record also was held by the Cavaliers, set from 1982-83.
Cleveland had a chance to tie it with a 3-pointer in the final seconds but made one pass too many, and time expired without a shot going up.
Bobcats 94, Celtics 89: Gerald Wallace scored 19 points, including the clinching free throws with 3 seconds left, and Charlotte overcame top scorer Stephen Jackson’s ejection to beat the short-handed Celtics. The Bobcats snapped a six-game losing streak to Boston in a testy game that included five technical fouls and yet another emotional outburst by Jackson. The former Warrior has 13 technicals this season. Ray Allen scored 25 points and hit two 3-pointers, leaving him two shy of breaking Reggie Miller’s NBA career record of 2,560. Paul Pierce added 22 points and Kevin Garnett grabbed 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who dressed only 10 players.
Timberwolves 104, Hornets 92: Kevin Love had 27 points and 17 rebounds, and the struggling Timberwolves maintained their surprising dominance of the host Hornets. Minnesota’s second double-digit win over New Orleans this season might have been a costly one, though. Michael Beasley, who had 14 points, had to be helped off the floor with a left leg injury, and starting center Darko Milicic departed with a strained left hip flexor.
Lakers 93, Grizzlies 84: Kobe Bryant scored 19 points and Lamar Odom had 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead visiting Los Angeles over Memphis. The Lakers, who tied the season series 2-all, have won three of four overall. The Grizzlies have lost two straight but still have won five of their last seven. Pau Gasol scored 17 points for the Lakers. Sam Young led the Grizzlies with 22 points, matching his career high.
Rockets 108, Nuggets 103: Kevin Martin scored 37 points and the visiting Rockets took advantage of Nene’s absence and Chauncey Billups’ early exit to beat the Nuggets despite Carmelo Anthony’s 50-point effort that tied his career high. The Rockets were without guard Aaron Brooks, who was suspended for one game after leaving the court in the fourth quarter of their win over Memphis on Saturday.
Jazz 107, Kings 104: Al Jefferson scored 23 points and Deron Williams had 21 points and nine assists to help the Jazz rally for victory over the host Kings. DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 14 rebounds for Sacramento, which committed 20 turnovers. Omri Casspi’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds was an air ball and the Jazz secured the rebound and the victory.
