The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to avoid the kind of history no team wants to be a part of when they face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. Already owners of the NBA's longest losing streak ever, the Cavs would break the record of 26-games held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL if they lost their 27th consecutive game tonight.
Cleveland's most recent hiccup came on Wednesday to Central Division rival Detroit at The Q. Antawn Jamison recorded 22 points while Ramon Sessions dished out and 12 assists in the 103-94 setback, the team's 36th in 37 games. In addition to running their record losing streak to 26, the Cavs also lost for the 11th straight time at home. Sessions had 20 points, while J.J. Hickson posted 18 and 15 rebounds.
Despite being within striking distance in the second half, Scott thought his team showed no sense of urgency in yet another loss.
"Last week we got better each game and tonight I thought we took a step back and it was all because of lack of effort," said Scott.
Cleveland had already set the NBA mark for futility at 25 -- breaking its own record that spanned the 1981-82 and '82-83 seasons -- by falling at Dallas on Monday. The club then matched the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL for the longest slide in North American pro sports history with its recent loss.
If there is any good news Cleveland started an eight-game homestand against Detroit and if the Cavaliers don't snap their losing streak Friday against the Clippers, something will have to give Sunday when the Wizards carry their 0-25 road record into Quicken Loans Arena.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are coming off a rare road win and improved to 1-4 on a season-long 11-game trek Wednesday in New York when Baron Davis scored 16 points and dished out a season-high 16 assists, as Los Angeles used a balanced attack to take down the Knicks, 116-108, at Madison Square Garden.
Randy Foye, playing more minutes in the absence of the injured Eric Gordon, added 24 points for the Clippers, who snapped a four-game overall skid and improved to 4-18 as the visitor on the season. Blake Griffin tallied 21 points and six rebounds.
Ryan Gomes and DeAndre Jordan chipped in 18 and 17 points, respectively, for Los Angeles. Jordan also pulled down eight rebounds.
"It was huge for us," Griffin said. "Foye absolutely took over the last four minutes."