Chasing history: A loss-by-loss timeline of the 2014-15 Philadelphia 76ers

You don't get to 17 straight losses without a ton of hilariously awful basketball being played. With the Philadelphia 76ers a loss away from matching the worst start in NBA history in Minnesota tonight, here's a reminder of how they got to 0-17.

Oct. 29 at Indiana - Pacers 103, 76ers 91
In hindsight, opening the season against the George-less, West-less, Hill-less Pacers might have been Philly's best chance to get an early season win. They shot 38 percent from the field, missed 13 free throws and scored 40 second half points to quickly crush those hopes.

Oct. 31 at Milwaukee - Bucks 93, 76ers 81
In a matchup of last season's two worst teams, the Sixers took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, 12 minutes away from a pretty standard 1-1 start to the season. They then scored seven points in that fourth quarter.

No.v 1 vs. Miami - Heat 114, 76ers 96
Philly finished with nearly twice as many turnovers (24) as fourth quarter points (13). Enough said.

Nov. 3 vs. Houston - Rockets 104, 76ers 93
James Harden finished with more made free throws (17) than the entire Sixers team (16) in front of less than 13,000 Philly fans. Rock bottom seems so close, and yet so far.

Nov. 5 vs. Orlando - Magic 91, 76ers 89
At home against a similarly youthful, rebuilding team that's on the second night of a back-to-back. Surely this is the game for the Sixers!

Nov. 7 vs. Chicago - Bulls 118, 76ers 115
The Sixers fell to 0-6, but their fourth quarter rally to give the Bulls a tough finish garners praise. At least this overmatched team competes and keeps games close. Perhaps there really is reason to be excited about the future.

About that...

Nov. 9 at Toronto - Raptors 120, 76ers 88
The Sixers score the game's opening basket and then never lead again in a game that sees them trail by as many 41 points. "I felt like we got dispirited for the first time," head coach Brett Brown said after the game.

It's hard not to get dispirited when teams are doing this to you late in a blowout: 

Nov. 13. at Dallas - Mavericks 123, 76ers 70
The Mavs led 38-10 after the first quarter and 73-29 at halftime, en route to their biggest win in franchise history. This is around where the possibility of this Sixers squad being the worst team ever assembled became a worthwhile talking point.

Nov. 14 at Houston - Rockets 88, 76ers 87
The Sixers somehow managed to carry a lead into the game's final 20 seconds. Then they let James Harden literally coast down the middle of the floor for the game-winning layup.

Nov. 17 at San Antonio - Spurs 100, 76ers 75
Perhaps feeling the sting after flirting so dangerously with a W in their previous game, the Sixers made sure not to let themselves dream in this one, falling behind by 17 in the first quarter and never getting within single digits again. Red Rocket Matt Bonner torched them for 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. 

"I don't think that the losses are getting to us," Sixers guard Tony Wroten said after the game.

Nov. 19 vs. Boston  - Celtics 101, 76ers 90
Back home after a tough road trip, the Sixers fed off of some encouragement from Ellen Degeneres and a raucous crowd of almost 13,000 to give the Celtics a run for their money. The game was tied at halftime and within five points after three. But Philly ran out of steam and the Celts pulled away in the fourth. Thanks anyway, Ellen. 

Nov. 21 vs. Phoenix - Suns 122, 76ers 96
Before the game, Suns guard Eric Bledsoe went on Sirius XM NBA Radio and said he thought the Kentucky Wildcats of the NCAA would beat the Sixers in a seven-game series. "I think Philly would probably get maybe one game," Bledsoe said. The Sixers bristled, and responded by defiantly opening the game on an 11-2 run. 

Alas, they couldn't sustain their indignant rage. The Suns countered with a 20-4 run and a 41-point second quarter, and turned this one into a laugher. 

Nov. 22 at New York - Knicks 91, 76ers 83
Rookie Nerlens Noel had his best game as a pro, notching 17 points and 12 boards, and on the second night of a back-to-back the Sixers impressed with a spirited fourth-quarter push. Too bad they'd dug themselves a 17-point hole through three. 

From Brian Mahoney's AP recap of the game: "The crowd was announced at 19,812, a sellout, but fans were largely silent during play, as if beating up on the dismal Sixers wasn't worth cheering."

Nov. 24 vs. Portland - Blazers 114, 76ers 104
Against a top-flight Western Conference foe, this resolute Sixers squad took a two-point lead into halftime. Sadly, games are played over 48 minutes, and in the second half the wheels fell off. Fed up with his ineffectual teammates, Michael Carter-Williams eventually started deferring to referee Haywoode Workman.

Nov. 26 vs. Brooklyn - Nets 99, 76ers 91
Say what you will about the front office's long-term strategy, but never let it be said that the players on this team lack heart. The Sixers fell behind by 20 points in the first half, only to rally back and take the lead in the fourth. The Nets escaped thanks to a huge 10-point quarter from Alan Anderson. 

The Sixers later protested the loss on the grounds that Alan Anderson is also the Atlanta Hawk. 

Verdict pending. 

Nov. 29 vs. Dallas - Mavericks 110, 76ers 103
After beating Philly by 53 points last time out, the Mavs decided this would be a good game to get Dirk Nowitzki some rest. "I hope it doesn't come back to haunt us," a smug Mark Cuban joked before the game. 

The Sixers very nearly made the smug Cuban choke on his smug Cuban words, hanging with Dallas all game and even briefly leading in the fourth quarter. They came up just short, but count this one as a moral victory. 

Dec. 1 vs. San Antonio - Spurs 109, 76ers 103
The Spurs rested Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and played Manu Ginobili for just 13 minutes, but Henry Sims and the Sixers couldn't escape the wrath of Marco Belinelli.

No, really:

And with that, the 2014-15 Philadelphia 76ers became the fourth team in NBA history to open a season with 17 consecutive losses. They can match the 2009-10 Nets' record of 0-18 with a loss to the Timberwolves Wednesday.

A potential record-setting 19th straight loss would then loom at home Friday against the suddenly healthy Oklahoma City Thunder.