The Houston Rockets' losing streak reached 20 games Sunday after a 114-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, becoming the eighth team in NBA history to lose 20 consecutive games in a single season.
This is the 13th time a team has lost 20 in a row overall. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the record for the longest losing streak at 28, spanning the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The longest single-season losing streak in league history belongs to the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 76ers with 26.
The two-point loss to the Thunder is the Rockets' closest margin in all 20 of its losses.
Houston, now 11-30 on the season, recently traded P.J. Tucker to the Milwaukee Bucks for D.J. Augustin and D.J. Wilson, among other picks.
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What are Houston's biggest issues?
Kelly Iko, Rockets beat writer: Houston’s biggest problem for the majority of this 20-game losing streak has been depth. Sunday’s loss to the Thunder was just the second time the Rockets have had their core together — Eric Gordon is still out with a groin injury.
In spite of injuries, a lot of these losses have boiled down to the basics: lack of offensive synergy, defensive lapses and overall bad body language. Losing to a Thunder team without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Al Horford is really, really poor. There was a noticeable lack of execution down the stretch that really defined this entire 20-game stretch. Houston has to be better, plain and simple.
Looking at the schedule, where might the streak end?
Iko: It should have been this weekend! Houston had a cupcake weekend schedule, two home games against Detroit and Oklahoma City and came up short. The way this wacky season has gone, I could honestly see them winning tomorrow night against Toronto — but I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were a Rockets fan. The absolute best chance for Houston to get a win would be Friday against Minnesota. Because if they lose that…..
What might the Rockets do at the trade deadline?
Iko: It will be business as usual for Houston at the deadline. Following Tucker’s trade to Milwaukee, Victor Oladipo becomes the hottest name for the team as Thursday’s deadline nears. Will he be a Rocket on Friday? Other names like Danuel House, Ben McLemore and Sterling Brown will be ones to monitor as well. On the flip side, Houston has a number of draft picks at their disposal should they seek upgrades in the frontcourt that they desperately need.
(Photo: Cato Cataldo / NBAE via Getty Images)
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