Cavaliers match NBA record losing streak

The Cleveland Cavaliers matched the NBA record for the longest single-season losing streak by dropping their 23rd game in a row, falling 112-105 at Memphis.

Cleveland matched the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies, who later moved to Memphis, and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets for sustained single-season futility.

The Cavaliers, 8-42, can set a new one-season record losing streak, and match the all-time NBA record multi-season losing streak, with a home loss today against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Guys are very disappointed in the way we finished the game and maybe that is a good thing,” said Cleveland coach Byron Scott, who played on the Vancouver club that established the all-time losing streak record.

The Cavaliers, who lost MVP LeBron James to Miami last July, became the first NBA team to clinch a losing season.

“Everybody was really quiet with their heads down,” Cavaliers center J.J. Hickson said of the Cavaliers’ locker room after the loss.

“We’re not playing to lose. We’re not going out there trying to lose. I think we did a good job of playing hard. They say you can’t win ‘em all, but in the same light, you can’t lose ‘em all either.

“If we stay (focused), we can get a couple of wins before the season is over.”

Cleveland have not won a game since beating New York in overtime on December 18.