The Philadelphia 76ers lost their 25th game in a row, moving to within one game of equalling the National Basketball Association’s mark for futility in the league.
Austin Daye came off the bench to score 22 points as San Antonio cruised to a 113-91 over the hapless 76ers, who can match the longest single season losing streak in history with a loss to Houston on Thursday.
“It felt like they were running 100 miles per hour out there,” Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young said of San Antonio.
“They were moving and passing and cutting, but that is a sign of a team who has been together for a few years and has been a championship contending team each and every year.”
The Sixers haven’t won since a buzzer-beating victory in Boston over the Celtics on January 29. Evan Turner scored the winning basket and he’s now with the Indiana Pacers.
They next face the Rockets who have 28 wins and just seven losses at home this season. The 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers hold the record for the longest losing streak.
Michael Carter-Williams and Young had 17 points apiece to pace the weak attack of Philadelphia, who have lost 11 consecutive games on the road.
A pair of streaks collided Monday as the Spurs and Philadelphia are headed in opposite directions.
Tim Duncan tallied 19 points for San Antonio, who have won 14 in a row, the longest win streak in the league this season.
The 22 points was a season high for Daye.
“Tonight you saw a well-oiled machine just pick us apart,” said Philadelphia coach Brett Brown.
Spurs’ star Tony Parker skipped the contest with a sore left Achilles.
The Spurs scored the opening 15 points of the second quarter after leading by seven, 31-24, at the end of the first.
Daye scored eight points during the run as San Antonio broke the game open in the second and never looked back.
He capped the surge with a jump shot with 7:20 left in the quarter to give the Spurs a dominant 45-24 lead.
“I am out there trying to figure out and pick things up as quickly as possible so I can be ready whenever my number is called,” Daye said.
San Antonio took a 60-44 lead into the half and an 89-68 lead into the fourth quarter, where they led by as many as 24 points before cruising to the easy victory.