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PHILADELPHIA -- Down and out or down to the wire, the 76ers are freefalling toward NBA history. nfl jerseys china . D.J Augustin scored 20 points and Taj Gibson had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 102-94 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, handing the 76ers their 22nd straight loss. The Sixers are four losses shy of matching the NBA record for the longest single-season losing streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2010-11 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) each lost 23 straight. "Winnable game," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "I say that because a group thats been losing ... still stays together. They still compete. Im proud of them." The Sixers also lost their 17th straight home game since beating Charlotte on Jan. 15. They were 8-11 at home at that point and had already defeated Miami, the Bulls, and Houston in Philadelphia. After the Sixers were 3-0 following a Nov. 2 win over Chicago, fans held signs that said, "3-0. Thats No Bull." That seems like another season at times after the Sixers traded Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen at the deadline for draft picks, a necessary step for a rebuilding franchise. Unlike most of the first 21 losses in the streak, the Sixers were competitive until the final possessions, never letting the Bulls lead by more than 11. Sixers centre Byron Mullens, who hadnt attempted a shot all game, hit consecutive 3s to pull the Sixers to 83-80. He made a nifty save on a ball headed out of bounds, leading to Henry Sims bucket and a foul. With a chance to tie the game, Sims missed the free throw with 8:19 left. Thaddeus Young bailed him out a possession later with a 3-pointer that made it 85-all. Joakim Noah buried a go-ahead 3 from the top of the arc and Augustin followed with one from the sideline to put the Bulls up 91-85. Tony Wrotens 3 made it 93-90 but it was just more false hope. Carlos Boozers emphatic dunk stretched the lead to six and the Bulls did enough to hang on and move to .500 on the road (17-17). The Sixers have lost three of four by less than 10 points after losing each of the previous 10 games by double-digits. "We knew it would be this type of game," Augustin said. "We just tried to fight them until the end and it was a fight, a real fight." The Sixers could make it 23 straight with a loss Friday to New York. Then three straight on the road at Chicago, San Antonio and Houston. If the Sixers lose all of those games, the potential record 27th loss would come March 29 vs. Detroit. Young scored 24 points for the Sixers and Wroten had 17. "Were going to get one soon," Wroten said. Boozer had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls and Noah added 14 points and 10 boards. The Sixers solid 11-for-24 3-point shooting was undone by a 9 of 19 mark from the free-throw line. "There is just no inch for error," Brown said. "Theres no wiggle room at all." The Sixers stayed tight and chipped away in the third, making it 64-61 on Youngs 3-pointer. Sims was 0 for 7 from the floor until his first basket cut it to 64-63. The Sixers just couldnt make the clutch basket or two to finally take the lead. Theyd get as close again as two points in the third and trailed only 75-69 at the end of the quarter. "I think Bretts done a great job with them," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Theyve got a lot of moving parts. I give a guy like Young a lot of credit for his professionalism -- how hard he plays. They shot the ball well. The Bulls played without Derrick Rose, the former MVP point guard who tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Thibodeau said Rose could could be ready to return if he gets the call to play this summer for Team USA at the world championships. "I know hed like to do it," Thibodeau said. "I know how USA basketball feels about him. If hes cleared to do it, Id love to see him do it." NOTES: The Sixers are 3-32 since a four-game winning streak ended Jan. 4. ... The Bulls have won seven of eight against the Sixers. cheap jerseys from china . Wright sat out games on Tuesday and Wednesday after learning he broke his finger diving back to a base Monday night. He was examined by a hand specialist for the second straight day Thursday. cheap jerseys . The United States-born Fiva, who was eliminated in the first round at the Sochi Olympics, won the final ahead of Tomas Kraus of the Czech Republic, Didrik Bastian Juell of Norway and Christopher Del Bosco of Montreal. Duncan, from London, Ont., won the small final and is clinging to a tight lead in the standings as he aims to become the first Canadian to win a mens skicross Crystal Globe. Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mike Leake and the Reds bullpen quieted the Braves, while Fred Lewis had an RBI double and scored the deciding run in a 5-1 win to open a three-game series at Turner Field. Leake (4-2), recalled from Triple-A Louisville before the game, yielded just one run on seven hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win in his first start since May 3. It was nice that they sent me down just so I could [clear my head], Leake said. I was just trying to go out there and get a quality outing. Atlantas starter, Tommy Hanson, didnt make it out of the fifth. After winning four straight decisions, Hanson (5-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss. Cincinnati won for just the second time in 10 games despite leaving 14 runners on base. The Braves stranded 11, three coming in the eighth inning when Reds reliever Nick Masset got Alex Gonzalez to ground into a routine fielders choice to end the threat. Were not really in a rhythm right now, said Hanson. We just have to keep battling and keep playing hard. Ramon Hernandez tacked on a two-run homer off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for a 5-1 lead, and Francisco Cordeero closed out the victory in the ninth in a non- save situation. wholesale nfl jerseys. Lewis one-hopped the wall in left-center to plate Scott Rolen from first in the second inning, then scored in the fourth to make it 2-0. He walked with one out, moved to third when Hanson threw away a potential double-play ball and crossed home without a throw on Paul Janishs squeeze bunt. Hanson was taken out of the game an inning later with two outs and runners on the corners, and reliever George Sherrill had a comebacker from Jay Bruce glance off his glove for a run-scoring hit. The Braves threatened in the sixth with runners on the corners and one out, but only got one run across on Dan Ugglas sacrifice fly to the warning track in center. It was Ugglas first RBI since May 15. GAME NOTES:Atlanta was coming off a 3-4 road trip...The Reds went 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Atlanta went 1-for-7 in the same situations...Bruce has 13 RBI in his last six games...To open a roster spot for Leake, the Reds placed starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list due to a right shoulder injury...Kimbrel had not allowed a home run in 46 career appearances prior to Hernandezs long ball. jersyes nfl wholesale ' ' ' |
