Game-by-game comparison with the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers
The worst NBA team ever?
It's the Philadelphia 76ers of 1972-73, who started 0-15 and then, at the three-quarters pole, stood 4-58 after a 21-game losing streak.
But an amazing thing happened toward the end of the season: The Sixers got hot, winning five of seven from Valentine's Day to the end of February, suddenly improving to 9-60. Alas, another losing skid followed, leaving the Sixers with 13 straight losses and a final mark of 9-73.
All of this goes to show you that you never know what is around the corner for a team during the long, cruel NBA season. Any team, no matter how bad, can get it going -- and then go for weeks without winning.
So check out how those Sixers compare to the other worst teams in history, game by game, twist by twist, and turn by turn:
| 2007-08 Sacramento Kings (38-44 Thru 82 Games) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| On pace to finish: 38-44 | |||
| G | DATE | GAME | REC |
| 1 | 10/31 | @New Orleans Hornets L 90-104 |
0-1 |
| 2 | 11/2 | @San Antonio Spurs L 80-96 |
0-2 |
| 3 | 11/3 | @Dallas Mavericks L 102-123 |
0-3 |
| 4 | 11/6 | Seattle SuperSonics W 104-98 |
1-3 |
| 5 | 11/9 | Cleveland Cavaliers L 91-93 |
1-4 |
| 6 | 11/10 | Minnesota Timberwolves W 100-93 |
2-4 |
| 7 | 11/12 | @Utah Jazz L 93-117 |
2-5 |
| 8 | 11/14 | @Minnesota Timberwolves L 103-108 |
2-6 |
| 9 | 11/16 | New York Knicks W 123-118 (OT) |
3-6 |
| 10 | 11/18 | Detroit Pistons W 105-95 |
4-6 |
| 11 | 11/20 | Phoenix Suns L 98-100 |
4-7 |
| 12 | 11/21 | @Phoenix Suns L 111-127 |
4-8 |
| 13 | 11/23 | @Portland Trail Blazers L 84-87 |
4-9 |
| 14 | 11/26 | San Antonio Spurs W 112-99 |
5-9 |
| 15 | 11/28 | Golden State Warriors L 96-103 |
5-10 |
| 16 | 12/1 | Houston Rockets W 107-99 |
6-10 |
| 17 | 12/4 | Utah Jazz W 117-107 |
7-10 |
| 18 | 12/7 | Los Angeles Clippers L 87-97 |
7-11 |
| 19 | 12/8 | @Denver Nuggets L 97-101 |
7-12 |
| 20 | 12/10 | Milwaukee Bucks W 96-93 |
8-12 |
| 21 | 12/12 | @Boston Celtics L 78-90 |
8-13 |
| 22 | 12/14 | @Philadelphia 76ers W 109-99 |
9-13 |
| 23 | 12/15 | @Washington Wizards L 79-92 |
9-14 |
| 24 | 12/18 | @New Jersey Nets W 106-101 |
10-14 |
| 25 | 12/19 | @Milwaukee Bucks W 102-89 |
11-14 |
| 26 | 12/23 | Denver Nuggets L 105-106 |
11-15 |
| 27 | 12/26 | Boston Celtics L 69-89 |
11-16 |
| 28 | 12/28 | Philadelphia 76ers L 80-92 |
11-17 |
| 29 | 12/30 | Phoenix Suns L 102-117 |
11-18 |
| 30 | 1/2 | @New York Knicks W 107-97 |
12-18 |
| 31 | 1/4 | @Cleveland Cavaliers L 93-97 |
12-19 |
| 32 | 1/5 | @Chicago Bulls L 93-94 |
12-20 |
| 33 | 1/8 | Orlando Magic W 104-100 |
13-20 |
| 34 | 1/10 | Memphis Grizzlies W 116-113 |
14-20 |
| 35 | 1/12 | Indiana Pacers L 105-111 |
14-21 |
| 36 | 1/14 | Dallas Mavericks W 122-120 |
15-21 |
| 37 | 1/16 | @Toronto Raptors L 91-116 |
15-22 |
| 38 | 1/18 | @Detroit Pistons W 100-93 |
16-22 |
| 39 | 1/19 | @Indiana Pacers W 110-104 |
17-22 |
| 40 | 1/22 | New Jersey Nets W 128-94 |
18-22 |
| 41 | 1/23 | @Los Angeles Clippers L 85-111 |
18-23 |
| 42 | 1/25 | @Utah Jazz L 113-127 |
18-24 |
| 43 | 1/27 | @Seattle SuperSonics W 103-101 |
19-24 |
| 44 | 1/30 | Charlotte Bobcats W 105-91 |
20-24 |
| 45 | 2/1 | New Orleans Hornets W 112-103 |
21-24 |
| 46 | 2/2 | Chicago Bulls W 105-101 |
22-24 |
| 47 | 2/6 | Seattle SuperSonics L 92-105 |
22-25 |
| 48 | 2/8 | Utah Jazz W 117-104 |
23-25 |
| 49 | 2/9 | @Golden State Warriors L 102-105 |
23-26 |
| 50 | 2/12 | @Memphis Grizzlies L 94-107 |
23-27 |
| 51 | 2/13 | @Houston Rockets L 87-89 |
23-28 |
| 52 | 2/19 | @Portland Trail Blazers W 105-94 |
24-28 |
| 53 | 2/20 | Atlanta Hawks W 119-107 |
25-28 |
| 54 | 2/22 | @Charlotte Bobcats W 116-115 (OT) |
26-28 |
| 55 | 2/24 | @Orlando Magic L 93-112 |
26-29 |
| 56 | 2/26 | @Miami Heat L 86-107 |
26-30 |
| 57 | 2/27 | @Atlanta Hawks L 117-123 |
26-31 |
| 58 | 2/29 | @Dallas Mavericks L 106-115 |
26-32 |
| 59 | 3/2 | Miami Heat W 120-109 |
27-32 |
| 60 | 3/4 | Los Angeles Lakers L 105-117 |
27-33 |
| 61 | 3/5 | @Los Angeles Clippers L 109-116 (OT) |
27-34 |
| 62 | 3/7 | Minnesota Timberwolves L 103-111 |
27-35 |
| 63 | 3/9 | @Los Angeles Lakers W 114-113 |
28-35 |
| 64 | 3/13 | Portland Trail Blazers W 96-85 |
29-35 |
| 65 | 3/15 | @Phoenix Suns L 99-127 |
29-36 |
| 66 | 3/16 | Toronto Raptors W 106-100 |
30-36 |
| 67 | 3/18 | Golden State Warriors W 122-105 |
31-36 |
| 68 | 3/21 | @San Antonio Spurs L 89-102 |
31-37 |
| 69 | 3/22 | @Memphis Grizzlies L 111-117 |
31-38 |
| 70 | 3/24 | @Houston Rockets L 100-108 |
31-39 |
| 71 | 3/26 | Memphis Grizzlies W 107-106 (OT) |
32-39 |
| 72 | 3/28 | Washington Wizards L 108-114 |
32-40 |
| 73 | 3/30 | @Seattle SuperSonics W 120-107 |
33-40 |
| 74 | 4/1 | Houston Rockets W 99-98 |
34-40 |
| 75 | 4/3 | Los Angeles Clippers W 110-98 |
35-40 |
| 76 | 4/5 | @Denver Nuggets W 118-115 |
36-40 |
| 77 | 4/6 | Los Angeles Lakers L 92-114 |
36-41 |
| 78 | 4/8 | @Golden State Warriors L 132-140 |
36-42 |
| 79 | 4/11 | Portland Trail Blazers W 103-86 |
37-42 |
| 80 | 4/12 | New Orleans Hornets W 94-91 |
38-42 |
| 81 | 4/14 | San Antonio Spurs L 98-101 |
38-43 |
| 82 | 4/15 | @Los Angeles Lakers L 101-124 |
38-44 |
| 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73 Thru 82 Games) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Record: 9-73 | |||
| G | DATE | GAME | REC |
| 1 | 10/10 | @Chicago Bulls L 89-95 |
0-1 |
| 2 | 10/11 | Seattle SuperSonics L 100-105 |
0-2 |
| 3 | 10/13 | Buffalo Braves L 101-104 |
0-3 |
| 4 | 10/17 | @Buffalo Braves L 114-122 |
0-4 |
| 5 | 10/21 | @New York Knicks L 88-111 |
0-5 |
| 6 | 10/23 | @Boston Celtics L 85-105 |
0-6 |
| 7 | 10/25 | Cleveland Cavaliers L 108-113 |
0-7 |
| 8 | 10/28 | Milwaukee Bucks L 92-96 |
0-8 |
| 9 | 10/31 | @Cleveland Cavaliers L 116-126 |
0-9 |
| 10 | 11/1 | Houston Rockets L 104-108 |
0-10 |
| 11 | 11/3 | KC-Omaha Kings L 101-114 |
0-11 |
| 12 | 11/4 | @Atlanta Hawks L 120-128 |
0-12 |
| 13 | 11/5 | @Milwaukee Bucks L 113-131 |
0-13 |
| 14 | 11/8 | @KC-Omaha Kings L 107-125 |
0-14 |
| 15 | 11/10 | New York Knicks L 106-125 |
0-15 |
| 16 | 11/11 | Houston Rockets W 114-112 |
1-15 |
| 17 | 11/12 | @Phoenix Suns L 108-119 |
1-16 |
| 18 | 11/16 | @Golden State Warriors L 106-128 |
1-17 |
| 19 | 11/17 | @Seattle SuperSonics L 92-105 |
1-18 |
| 20 | 11/19 | @Los Angeles Lakers L 95-135 |
1-19 |
| 21 | 11/24 | Buffalo Braves L 96-105 |
1-20 |
| 22 | 11/25 | Portland Trail Blazers L 106-117 |
1-21 |
| 23 | 11/28 | @Buffalo Braves W 101-94 |
2-21 |
| 24 | 11/29 | New York Knicks L 91-139 |
2-22 |
| 25 | 12/1 | Boston Celtics L 99-105 |
2-23 |
| 26 | 12/2 | @Boston Celtics L 120-131 |
2-24 |
| 27 | 12/6 | KC-Omaha Kings W 122-117 |
3-24 |
| 28 | 12/7 | Phoenix Suns L 102-117 |
3-25 |
| 29 | 12/8 | Chicago Stags L 102-118 |
3-26 |
| 30 | 12/9 | @New York Knicks L 109-120 |
3-27 |
| 31 | 12/12 | @Baltimore Bullets L 102-123 |
3-28 |
| 32 | 12/13 | Los Angeles Lakers L 90-128 |
3-29 |
| 33 | 12/16 | Buffalo Braves L 103-126 |
3-30 |
| 34 | 12/20 | @Detroit Pistons L 113-141 |
3-31 |
| 35 | 12/22 | @Houston Rockets L 103-116 |
3-32 |
| 36 | 12/23 | Atlanta Hawks L 112-124 |
3-33 |
| 37 | 12/27 | Atlanta Hawks L 120-121 |
3-34 |
| 38 | 12/30 | Boston Celtics L 107-117 |
3-35 |
| 39 | 1/2 | @Buffalo Braves L 110-114 |
3-36 |
| 40 | 1/5 | @Portland Trail Blazers L 102-135 |
3-37 |
| 41 | 1/6 | @Golden State Warriors L 79-111 |
3-38 |
| 42 | 1/7 | @Seattle SuperSonics W 85-82 |
4-38 |
| 43 | 1/9 | @Chicago Bulls L 110-126 |
4-39 |
| 44 | 1/10 | Los Angeles Lakers L 96-120 |
4-40 |
| 45 | 1/12 | Cleveland Cavaliers L 109-113 (OT) |
4-41 |
| 46 | 1/13 | Boston Celtics L 95-111 |
4-42 |
| 47 | 1/15 | @KC-Omaha Kings L 108-135 |
4-43 |
| 48 | 1/16 | @Milwaukee Bucks L 92-108 |
4-44 |
| 49 | 1/17 | Atlanta Hawks L 105-122 |
4-45 |
| 50 | 1/19 | Baltimore Bullets L 94-110 |
4-46 |
| 51 | 1/21 | @Baltimore Bullets L 97-108 |
4-47 |
| 52 | 1/26 | @Cleveland Cavaliers L 100-105 |
4-48 |
| 53 | 1/28 | Buffalo Braves L 96-101 |
4-49 |
| 54 | 1/30 | @Buffalo Braves L 104-105 |
4-50 |
| 55 | 1/31 | Golden State Warriors L 115-131 |
4-51 |
| 56 | 2/2 | @Detroit Pistons L 104-114 |
4-52 |
| 57 | 2/3 | Boston Celtics L 100-104 |
4-53 |
| 58 | 2/4 | @Boston Celtics L 115-123 |
4-54 |
| 59 | 2/6 | Houston Rockets L 117-123 |
4-55 |
| 60 | 2/9 | @Portland Trail Blazers L 105-116 |
4-56 |
| 61 | 2/10 | @Phoenix Suns L 121-126 |
4-57 |
| 62 | 2/11 | @Los Angeles Lakers L 90-108 |
4-58 |
| 63 | 2/14 | Milwaukee Bucks W 106-104 |
5-58 |
| 64 | 2/16 | Detroit Pistons W 119-106 |
6-58 |
| 65 | 2/17 | @New York Knicks L 89-107 |
6-59 |
| 66 | 2/18 | New York Knicks W 114-98 |
7-59 |
| 67 | 2/23 | Houston Rockets L 116-138 |
7-60 |
| 68 | 2/25 | Portland Trail Blazers W 115-111 |
8-60 |
| 69 | 2/28 | Baltimore Bullets W 102-96 |
9-60 |
| 70 | 3/2 | Atlanta Hawks L 107-130 |
9-61 |
| 71 | 3/4 | @Atlanta Hawks L 130-138 |
9-62 |
| 72 | 3/7 | New York Knicks L 94-120 |
9-63 |
| 73 | 3/9 | Chicago Bulls L 84-104 |
9-64 |
| 74 | 3/10 | Seattle SuperSonics L 96-106 |
9-65 |
| 75 | 3/11 | Golden State Warriors L 93-97 |
9-66 |
| 76 | 3/14 | Phoenix Suns L 114-120 |
9-67 |
| 77 | 3/17 | Baltimore Bullets L 115-120 |
9-68 |
| 78 | 3/18 | @Baltimore Bullets L 118-129 |
9-69 |
| 79 | 3/20 | @Cleveland Cavaliers L 105-131 |
9-70 |
| 80 | 3/21 | Cleveland Cavaliers L 109-112 |
9-71 |
| 81 | 3/23 | Houston Rockets L 112-132 |
9-72 |
| 82 | 3/25 | Detroit Pistons L 96-115 |
9-73 |