Houston Rockets extend team-record losing streak to 20 games

HOUSTON -- Mired in a long losing streak, the Houston Rockets twice put the ball in John Wall's hands in the waning moments.

No luck, once again.

The Rockets extended their team-record losing streak to 20 games, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-112 Sunday when Wall missed two shots in the final 10 seconds.

"We have no choice but to pick up and try hard and learn and grow, and it starts with me," Houston coach Stephen Silas said.

The Rockets' skid is tied for the ninth worst in NBA history and the longest since Philadelphia's record-setting 28-game losing streak across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Houston took a 110-109 lead with less than three minutes remaining. After the Rockets went ahead, Lu Dort blocked Wall's layup from behind to protect a 113-112 edge.

"That was a heck of a play, obviously, and a great second effort," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He was out of the play a little bit and made a great comeback. I thought he was great, offensively, as well. I thought he really attacked."

With 4.9 seconds remaining, Houston inbounded the ball near its basket, with Jae'Sean Tate passing to Wall. Guarded by Dort, Wall took one dribble and attempted a deep 3-pointer from 29 feet that clanked wide left off the side of the rim and backboard.

Isaiah Roby secured the rebound and the win for the Thunder. Wall was 1-for-7 from 3 in the game.

"It worked out that way -- it was supposed to end up in a pick-and-roll," Silas said of the final possession. "It didn't. This one hurts."

Dort scored 23 points and Roby had 18 for the Thunder, who led by as many as 13 points. Svi Mykhailiuk and Justin Jackson each had 15 points off the bench.

"I've been trying to work on making good decisions at the end of games, and I thought I did good in the end today," Dort said. "We just had to step up and make some big plays at the end. We wanted to win, and that's what we did."

Christian Wood had 27 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for Houston, Wall had 24 points and seven assists, and Victor Oladipo had 23 points.

Wall, Wood and Oladipo combined for 40 first-half points. It was just the fifth time all season all three players have played in the same game.

The Rockets hit a franchise-record 28 3s in a win against the Thunder on Feb. 1, just three days before their last win. On Sunday, the Rockets were just 14-of-38 on 3s.

Sunday's game was originally supposed to be the season opener on Dec. 23, but it was postponed for COVID-19 protocols.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.