Cavs tie Bucs’ losing streak

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Forget the NBA record, the Cavaliers are officially as bad as any team in any pro sport.

Cleveland’s losing streak reached 26, matching the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ record for consecutive incompetence on Wednesday night with a 103-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons, who were supposedly a beatable opponent for the bottom-dwelling Cavs.

Instead, Cleveland’s season slipped further into shame.

The Cavs (8-45) remain winless since Dec. 18 and have now dropped 36 of 37. Their next chance to end the unimaginable slide will be on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. After that comes a home game against the road-winless Washington Wizards on Sunday.

The Cavs and their fans had hoped this was the night the streak stopped.

Cleveland had played well in its previous four games, losing by a combined 21 points and actually came into the matchup favored to beat Detroit, which was playing its second straight after hosting the league-leading San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

But the Cavs fell into a 12-point hole at half, and although they pulled within three in the third, they fell apart early in the fourth. Only some late buckets in garbage time made the score respectable.

When the final horn sounded, Cleveland’s fans didn’t bother booing as the Cavs dropped their heads and walked dejectedly to the locker room.

“Well, one of these days,” one fan climbing the stairs mumbled as he left.

As the losing streak has dragged on, Scott has received numerous encouraging phone calls and advice from friends around the league. The messages have all been positive.

“It’s good to hear their voices,” Scott said. “It’s usually, ’Hang in there.’ It’s something I’m going to do anyway.”