The Sixers wrote their names in the record books once again Friday night. And as usual, it wasn't for anything good.
Philadelphia's 102-85 loss to Oklahoma City was its ninth-straight to start the season. That's the second year in a row that's happened, making the Sixers the first team to do it in consecutive seasons . Last year, Philadelphia lost its first 17, games one shy of the 2009-10 Nets' record.
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Not everything went wrong for the Sixers. They won the first quarter, and undrafted rookie Christian Wood had his best game with 15 points and eight rebounds. Also, Jerami Grant threw down this ridiculous dunk:
Philadelphia was done in by another ridiculous Russell Westbrook stat line. The versatile Thunder point guard came up with 21 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in a 102-85 win over Sixers, his first game after his 27th birthday Thursday.
On the bright side, college basketball also started Friday, so Sixers fans can start obsessing over who their team will pick in next year's lottery to help out Jahlil Okafor and company. Though if these Sixers are anything like their past two iterations, they will end up not getting top odds in the lottery thanks to a few too many wins.
LeBron vs. Carmelo, a rivalry that never was
The Cavs 90-86 win over the Knicks on Friday night in New York was more than just one of 82 regular season games for both teams. It was a game that signified the careers of their superstars, Cleveland's LeBron James and New York's Carmelo Anthony.
James and Anthony came of age at the dawn of the new millennium, when high schoolers were just beginning to become household names and faces. The two entered the NBA together in 2003, Anthony fresh off a national title at Syracuse and James a storybook career at St. Vincent-St. Mary's in Akron, Ohio.
They were supposed to be the next great rivalry. The next Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird. But it hasn't happened that way.
James' all-around skill set endeared him to his teammates and lifted his teams, first in Cleveland, then Miami, and then back to Cleveland, to new heights. Anthony gained a reputation as a talented scorer who could fill it up with the best of them, but not necessarily the type of player you could pin championship hopes on.
Friday night's results stuck with that narrative, as Anthony came out on fire offensively (he scored 22 of his 26 points in the first half) only to have James take over in the second half with a routinely spectacular game (31 points, six assists and two steals) by his standards.
James now holds a 13-12 edge in the head-to-head rivalry that hasn't lived up to its billing since the pair entered the league.
Lawson proves no one wrong in Denver
Friday marked Ty Lawson's first game back in Denver after being traded to Houston in the summer following a series of off-court problems. It got off to a bad start when he was booed by the crowd, and didn't get any better throughout the Rockets' 107-98 loss.
Lawson was shut out offensively, missing all seven of his field goal attempts. He did have seven assists, but it was another disappointing game in what has been a disappointing season to this point. Lawson is averaging 10.5 points and 5.6 assists while shooting just 34.2 percent from the field, all well below his career averages.
Tweet of the night
LeBron James pays his respects to victims of the Paris tragedy .
As I get ready for my game I can't help but to think of the tragedy in Paris! My God what's up with people. Prayers sent to all the familes!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 13, 2015 Looking ahead
Cavaliers (8-1) at Bucks (4-5) 8:30 p.m. ET: The Cavs remain smoking hot, as they have now won eight straight. The Bucks are on a two-game losing streak, but their young legs should give their opponents a good test after a tough win on Friday night.
Pistons (5-3) at Clippers (5-4) at 3:30 p.m. ET: This game will be worth watching just for the battle down low between rebound fiends DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond.