Cavs set mark with 25th loss in a row

Whether it be during one season or spanning two, no team in NBA history has lost as many games in a row as these Cleveland Cavaliers.

The surging Mavericks beat visiting Cleveland, 99-96, last night, making it 25 straight losses for the Cavs.

Cleveland already held the record for the most consecutive losses in a single season, but the league also keeps a record for losses spread over two seasons. This topped that one, too, making it the most consecutive losses in league history, period. The previous record also was held by the Cavs, set from 1982-83.

Cleveland had a chance to tie it with a three-pointer in the final seconds, but the Cavs made one pass too many and time expired without a shot going up.

Jason Terry scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to make sure the Mavs avoided the embarrassment of being the Cavs' streak-buster. It would've been especially surprising because Dallas has the NBA's longest active winning streak, now nine straight.

Everyone knew Cleveland would struggle this season after losing LeBron James, but this? Since starting 7-9, the Cavs are 1-35. Their last win was on Dec. 18. Their only glimmer of hope is that the next seven games are at home.

At least they're still playing hard - in many ways. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki needed treatment on a jammed wrist and was so frustrated by the rough play that he got rough, too, practically throwing a punch at Ramon Sessions in the final minute. A foul was called on the play, but not a flagrant.

Melo scores 50 in loss. Carmelo Anthony matched his career high with 50 points, but it wasn't enough as the host Denver Nuggets lost to the Houston Rockets, 108-103. Kevin Martin scored 37 points to lead the Rockets. Denver's Nene sat out with the flu.

Bobcats 94, Celtics 89: Gerald Wallace scored 19 points, including the clinching free throws with three seconds left, as host Charlotte beat the shorthanded Celtics, who dressed only 10 players. Boston's Ray Allen hit two three-pointers, leaving him two shy of breaking Reggie Miller's NBA career record of 2,560.- AP