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Sixers try to avoid 27th straight loss, host Pistons

Mar 29, 2014 - 12:43 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - History could be made Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The 76ers have lost 26 straight and matched the longest losing streak not just in NBA history, but in the history of the four major North American professional sports leagues.

A loss on Saturday night at home, where the Sixers have dropped 18 in a row, to the Detroit Pistons will etch them in the record books.

"We move on," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "We're on a different path. We see this whole thing through a far different lens."

The Sixers have been in rebuilding mode all season and escalated the process at the trade deadline when they sent Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen packing.

In their attempt to secure the most possible ping-pong balls for the draft lottery, the Sixers haven't won since Jan. 29 in Boston. Turner hit the game- winner that night, just as he did for the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.

Philly hasn't won since before the Super Bowl, or before the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The loss that tied the Cleveland Cavaliers' streak from the 2010-11 season came on Thursday night in Houston to the Rockets. Kevin McHale's crew demolished the Sixers, 120-98.

James Anderson ended with 30 points for the Sixers, who have lost 12 in a row on the road. Henry Sims and Thaddeus Young donated 18 and 15 points, respectively, with Young also grabbing nine boards.

The Pistons have lost two straight and seven of their last eight. Detroit got clobbered its last time out, falling to the two-time champion Miami Heat, 110-78, at home Friday night.

Greg Monroe and Will Bynum each had 12 points for the Pistons, who shot 38 percent from the field, including 3-of-24 from beyond the arc. Detroit also received 11 points from Kyle Singler.

The Heat played without Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Ray Allen and Greg Oden and for the first time since Wednesday's disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers.

"They play hard no matter who they play, no matter who they dress, no matter who they put in the game," Pistons coach John Loyer said of the Heat. "Their second unit had some separation and when they brought their group back in to end the second quarter, they had huge separation. The game went from a one, two-point game to a six-point game and then a 15-point game at the half. You can't do that against a quality team like this."

The Pistons have won all three meetings this season against the Sixers and four in a row overall. Philadelphia has won three of their last five at home against Detroit.