The 76ers, whose last victory came last season on March 25, 2015 when they defeated the Denver Nuggets, have snapped an National Basketball Association record of 28 consecutive losses, bridging the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons, and an 18-game losing streak to start the current year.
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“You could nearly see a youthful smile on Jerami [Grant] and Isaiah [Canaan] as Kobe just started burying 3s”, Philly coach Brett Brown said. “We want a little bit more. Obviously, this is a relief on many levels”. “I hate that that didn’t happen”, said James, who lost to the Howard’s Magic in six games of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.
John Wall led the way with 35 points, 10 assists and four rebounds as the Wizards improved to 7-8, easing pressure on beleaguered coach Randy Wittman.
Robert Covington led the Sixers with a game-high 23 points. They have dropped seven in a row and 11 of 12.
This entire season has been a struggle for the retiring superstar but Bryant’s last four games have been particularly alarming.
After a lengthy introduction in Bryant’s final pro game in Philadelphia, there was a lengthy ovation and chants of “Ko-be, Ko-be”.
Bryant, who will end his 20-year career this season, opened the first leg of his farewell tour in his hometown and was feted with the kind of reverence and gratitude normally reserved for a Sixers great.
Bryant added, “I sincerely appreciate the bad as much as I do the good, and hopefully the players coming up now understand that – understand that it’s a journey, it’s a cycle, you can’t take things personal”. “I try not to be”.
“They got me”, Bryant said. After making three of his first four shots, the 2008 MVP went 4 of 22 the rest of the game.
It was like a light was switched for Philadelphia as it looked like they finally saw the light in the second half, upping their intensity on both ends to mount a furious comeback, and at one point going on a 15-1 run.
“I’m pleased for the city”, he said. Los Angeles has surrendered an average of 109.0 points while losing five straight to the Wizards.
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Covington had 11 to pace the Sixers before the break. Brown said Okafor, who has apologized for his recent decisions, will likely soon be accompanied by team security on public outings. “All of this stuff right now is still fluid”.
