NBA ROUNDUP : Mavericks Tie Mark With 20th Loss in Row

The Dallas Mavericks suffered their 20th loss in a row Wednesday night, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks, 96-86, at Milwaukee to tie an NBA record for consecutive losses in one season.

The Mavericks (1-23) play tonight at Minnesota, where they won their only game this season on Nov. 12.

Dallas tied the NBA mark for consecutive losses in a season set by the Philadelphia 76ers from Jan. 9 to Feb. 11, 1973. Cleveland has the overall record for losses with 24 straight over a two-season span in 1982.

“It’s frustrating,” Maverick guard Jim Jackson said of the streak. “So many times we’ve come so close, then end up not winning at all. That hurts more than getting beat by 30.”

The Bucks were led by Todd Day with 21 points and Blue Edwards with 19 as they improved to 7-18 with only their second victory in 10 home games.

Jamal Mashburn led Dallas with 29 points, and Sean Rooks had 17.

Atlanta 108, Boston 103--The Hawks set a team record with their seventh consecutive road victory, surviving a late Celtic rally at Boston for their 16th victory in 17 games.

The Hawks, who got a season-high 32 points from Kevin Willis, held a 103-96 lead with 1:51 to play before Xavier McDaniel made a three-point play and a baseline jumper, cutting the Celtics’ deficit to 103-101 with 1:16 remaining.

But the Celtics came no closer as McDaniel, who scored a season-high 26 points, was short on a 20-footer that would have tied the score with 46 seconds to play.

Chicago 106, Minnesota 98--Scottie Pippen scored 26 points and Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr came off the bench to combine for 38 at Chicago, carrying the Bulls to their seventh consecutive victory.

The Bulls, who have lost only once in their last 12 games, held an 80-72 lead early in the fourth quarter before Kerr’s three-point basket started an 8-0 run that increased the Bulls’ advantage to 88-72 with 6:57 to play.

Kukoc finished with 21 points and Kerr 17 for the Bulls. Isaiah Rider scored 25 for the Timberwolves, who are winless against the Bulls in nine meetings.

Miami 98, Philadelphia 90--Glen Rice scored 25 points to lead the Heat to its first victory in 12 games at Philadelphia.

Clarence Weatherspoon and Dana Barros scored 17 points each for the 76ers, who had won their three previous home games.

Steve Smith scored 19 points and Brian Shaw 17 for the Heat.