Cavaliers’ Losing Streak Now NBA’s Longest Ever At 24 Straight

The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost an NBA record 24 straight games after falling to the Portland Trail Blazers 111-105 on Saturday night. The Cavs broke the record for most consecutive games lost in one season (23), shared by the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. Cleveland also tied its own record of 24 consecutive losses when allowing for streaks to stretch over multiple season. The 1981-82 Cavs lost their final 19 games, and the 1982-83 Cavs lost their first five for a total of 24 straight defeats.

The Cavaliers next play Monday at the Dallas Mavericks. Should they lose, they will officially have the worst losing streak in NBA history, with no competition or conditions.

Cleveland actually hasn't been losing by much lately. The team's last three losses -- against Indiana, Memphis and Portland -- have come by an average of six points. The Cavs have the league's worst scoring differential at -11.4 points per game, and lay claim to the NBA's worst offense and worst defense, actually a rare feat. Perhaps worse than the 24-game streak is the fact that Cleveland has won just once since the end of November. The Cavs had a 10-game losing streak before knocking off the New York Knicks in overtime on Dec. 18. That means they have lost 34 of 35 games. That's almost half a season of futility.

The attention now turns to where the streak will end. After visiting Dallas, the Cavs will host eight straight games at the Q through the end of the month. The Pistons and Clippers lead off and present serious opportunities for wins, but if it doesn't happen then, a showdown with the winless-on-the-road Wizards on Feb. 13 looms large. Washington is currently 0-25 on the road. If the Cavs haven't won, their streak will be at 27. That matchup of streaks would be the epitome of an immovable object versus an unstoppable force.