NBA: 76ers equal record NBA losing streak in Celtics loss

The Philadelphia 76ers equalled the record for the worst losing streak in NBA history on Wednesday, suffering a last-gasp defeat against Boston to chalk up their 26th consecutive loss. The 76ers led heading into the final minutes, but were finally overhauled by a late rally from the Celtics, who scraped home 84-80 as Philadelphia's miserable campaign continued. Jae Crowder sank a three-pointer with 38.5 seconds left on the clock as Boston produced an 18-3 points rally to win having trailed by 11 points midway through the third quarter. The 76ers are now 0-16 for the season, and combined with 10 straight losses last year now have a share of the record for the worst string of defeats in history. The 2013-14 76ers were the last side to lose 26 straight, a feat emulated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11. Two more defeats in their next games against Houston on Friday and Memphis on Sunday will take them to 0-18, equalling the worst ever start to an NBA season, set by the New Jersey Nets in 2009-10. Isaiah Thomas was the star for the Celtics on Wednesday, pouring on 30 points and six assists in a virtuoso display as Boston improved to 8-7. The only bright spark for the 76ers was the continued good form of center Jahlil Okafor, his team's top scorer with 19 points. Elsewhere on Wednesday, LeBron James scored 24 points to pass another points milestone but it was not enough to prevent the Cleveland Cavaliers tumbling to a 103-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors. James passed Reggie Miller to move into 18th place in the all-time NBA scoring lists with a free throw on his sixth point of the game. However James points benchmark was a footnote to a polished performance from Toronto, with guard Kyle Lowry outstanding with a 27-point haul. It was the third win in a row for the Raptors, who improved to 10-6 as their Eastern Conference rivals fell to 11-4.