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Sixers limp into Chicago on 23-game skid

Mar 22, 2014 - 2:01 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia 76ers are on the cusp of NBA futility and the schedule doesn't get any easier for a team mired in a 23-game slide.

The 76ers hope to halt a franchise-record losing streak when they start a three-game road trip Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. They will also make stops in San Antonio and Houston, and the chances of matching a 26-game losing streak by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11 seem legitimate.

Philadelphia could have the record after a March 29 visit by Detroit.

It's hard to imagine there's a worse team out there with the Milwaukee Bucks sporting a 13-56 record. The Sixers fell to 15-54 on the season with Friday's tough 93-92 loss to the surging New York Knicks and scored 18 of the game's final 20 points. The Sixers made a valiant effort to snap the streak, but a turnover by James Anderson and a missed 3-pointer from Michael Carter-Williams did them in.

The Sixers attempted a franchise-record 41 3-pointers and made only 10 of them. Anderson, who was 1-of-10 from long distance, had the ball in his hands and was driving toward the basket, but his pass to Thaddeus Young in the corner went out of bounds with 8.6 seconds left.

"When I go back I can make a better judgement when I look at the tape I felt like that's what the game gave us," Sixers head coach Brett Brown said on the amount of long distance shots. "I'm sure when I go back 41 is a huge number. I thought that's what the game gave us and I'm ok with that."

Philadelphia's current losing streak ties for the second-longest in a single season in NBA history, matching the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12).

The Sixers, who are 3-33 in the past 36 games, last prevailed on a buzzer- beating shot at Boston on Jan, 29. They are winless in nine straight on the road and have a 7-25 record as the guest.

Sixers guard Tony Wroten is nursing a high ankle sprain and is out indefinitely. Wroten had 12 points against the Knicks and is averaging 16.3 points in his last eight games (3 starts).

Meanwhile, the Bulls aim to get back on track after suffering a 91-79 road loss to the East-leading Indiana Pacers.

Jimmy Butler and D.J. Augustin scored 17 points apiece and Joakim Noah added 12 and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which entered the night having won three of four games. The Bulls shot a paltry 36 percent and were outrebounded 51-36.

"They're a good defensive team," said Noah. "You've got to give them credit where credit is due. For us, personally, we could do a few things better."

All five Indiana starters scored in double figures and Luis Scola netted 19 off the bench.

The Bulls are back home for three straight games against Philadelphia, Indiana and Portland, and have a 21-13 record at the United Center. They are fourth in the conference standings -- a half-game behind Toronto and one ahead of Brooklyn.

Chicago just beat the Sixers 102-94 on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center and is 10-4 in the past 14 meetings. The 76ers have dropped four in a row and eight of nine visits to the United Center.