HOUSTON -- After the Philadelphia 76ers tied an NBA record with their 26th consecutive loss, one of their youngest voices spoke loudest. Michael Carter-Williams, one of six rookies on the NBAs youngest team, delivered a pep talk after James Hardens triple-double led the Houston Rockets to a 120-98 victory on Thursday night. "During the game a couple of guys had long faces ... and I found myself a little bit down," said Carter-Williams, who had 10 assists. "I just dont want anyone in this locker room feeling bad for themselves ... I think thats really important that we dont get down on ourselves and we just give up just because we have a certain amount of losses. "I just felt like I needed to speak my piece and make sure that guys are upbeat every single day." Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was impressed by the leadership the 22-year-old Carter-Williams showed. "He never would have done that two months ago," Brown said. "He wouldnt have done it two weeks ago. All these things, all these small wins we find along the way, thats our road map this year. And life moves on. The group will stay together and we will finish this thing out together." Harden had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in three quarters for his second career triple-double as Houston picked up its fifth straight victory. "We did a great job of coming out tonight and taking care of business," Harden said. "No matter what their record was, we knew they were going to come here and play hard." The 76ers (15-57) stuck around early before a big second-quarter run allowed the Rockets to pull away and roll to the win. Philadelphia moved within a game of Milwaukee for the leagues worst record. Philadelphia matched the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBAs worst skid and can set the record at home against Detroit on Saturday. "We move on," Brown said. "We are on a different path. We see this whole thing through a far different lens." James Anderson led the Sixers with 30 points and made six 3-pointers. The Sixers havent won since Jan. 29 and are two games away from going winless in two straight months. There was very little visible emotion as the final seconds ticked away and the players slowly made their way off the court. Dwight Howard added 17 points with 13 rebounds for Houston. Terrence Jones had 20 points. There were a number of lowlights as the 76ers took their spot in history. One came when Howard blocked a shot by Thaddeus Young and he fell backward to the ground. By the time he got up, the Rockets were already on the other end of the court running their offence. Another was when the Sixers got a steal, but gave it back seconds later when Youngs pass intended for Anderson sailed high over his head and into the crowd. Carter-Williams got in on the bad play action when, under heavy pressure from Harden, he simply threw the ball into the Philadelphia bench in the second quarter. But the game wasnt without some nice plays by the Sixers, who have continued to play hard during this terrible stretch. A highlight came when Casper Ware grabbed a steal and made a 46-foot heave as time expired in the first quarter. That shot was part of a 12-0 run which got the Sixers within 35-33 early in the second quarter. A nice reverse layup by Anderson tied it at 43-all midway through the second quarter before Houston used a 20-6 run to take a 63-49 lead at halftime. The Sixers missed nine shots, including three layups, and had four turnovers as the Rockets built the lead. Houston was up by 17 late in the third quarter when the team went on an 8-0 run to pad the lead to 96-71. Brown addressed the dreadful stretch before the game and he isnt interested in anyones pity. "I hope they feel good about themselves," he said. "I dont want anyone feeling sorry for us or hanging our head ... we are going through something and we will get through it together." He also discussed their plan for rebuilding at length, saying he knew what he was getting into when he took the job and insisted this skid hasnt been difficult for him. "I can tell you very, very sincerely that this is something that in a twisted way is enjoyable in regards to watching the young guys get better," he said. "Obviously at times its hard going through it ... (but) I feel like were heading in the right direction." None of that can erase the fact that this streak now has its place in history as one of the worst in all of the four major professional sports. According to STATS LLC, the longest streaks in the other major sports are held by: -- In the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26 losses in row, from Sept. 12, 1976-Dec. 4 1977. -- In MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies, 23 losses in a row, from Jan. 29, 1961-Aug. 20, 1961. -- In the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins, 18 losses in a row, from Jan. 13, 2004-Feb. 22, 2004. NOTES: Former Rockets and Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone attended the game. Malone also played for the 76ers. ... Houston point guard Pat Beverley sprained his right knee in the first half and didnt return. Greedy Williams Browns Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins. The Athletics Get: LHP Jon Lester, LF Jonny Gomes, OF Sam Fuld and cash. Austin Seibert Womens Jersey . - A retired Indiana school principal who was NASCAR star Jeff Gordons drivers education teacher was killed with his wife in a Tennessee crash while returning from watching Gordon race. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-David-Njoku-Jersey/ . "I have had no discussions with Chad Johnson or his representation," Popp said Friday in an email. However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list. Denzel Ward Jersey . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. Austin Seibert Browns Jersey .ca/CurlingSkins - with the Top 16 curlers earning a ticket to Banff, Alta. to compete in the TRAVELERS ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME Presented by Pintys, running Jan.With the NHL Draft coming up on June 27 and free agency opening on July 1, discussions between NHL general managers are already heating up towards a busy off-season. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Parting Ways Richard Labbe of La Presse reports that the Montreal Canadiens will not be offering a new contract to forward George Parros, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Parros played 27 games with the Canadiens this season and didnt play a single playoff game. The Canadiens acquired him last July in a trade with the Florida Panthers. Busy Penguins? Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that other NHL teams have already contacted new Penguins GM Jim Rutherford about some of his players. "Some people came after me today, and theres ideas out there," Rutherford said Wednesday after their annual GM meeting in New York. "I havent been throwing any ideas out, but Ill listen." As Rossi notes, eight roster players will have full or modified no-trade clauses that kick in July 1. While James Neal is not among them, Neals agent told the paper hes received calls from other teams that expressed interest in acquiring the winger. Neals agent also told the Tribune-Review he has not requested a trade. Rutherford added that retaining defenceman Matt Niskanen, one of 11 players who will to become unrestricted free agents July 1, is "not going to be easy." Free Agent Grab Mikhail Grabovskis agent Gary Greenstin told The Washington Post that he thinks the Capitals want the 30-year-old centre back in the fold next season. "I believe (management has) interest in Grabo," Greenstin told The Posts Alex Prewitt. "We have interest to stay in Washington. Well see whats happening." Last summer, Grabovski signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Capiitals after the Toronto Maple Leafs bought him out for the final four seasons of a five-year deal worth $5.dddddddddddd.5 million per season. He scored 13 goals and 35 points in 58 regular season games with Washington. "If weve done the deal (by July 1), great," Greenstin added. "If not, not to worry. It has to be right, for Grabos camp, for the team. Were not worried at all. "We have short time, but we still have time." Something Bruin For Iggy Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com writes that the Boston Bruins have made re-signing Jarome Iginla their main priority right now. Afterwards, the focus will be on locking up restricted free agents Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and Reilly Smith. A source also told CSNNE.com that the agent for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Shawn Thornton hasnt yet been approached by the Bruins. As per Haggerty, Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said after the teams playoff elimination that he asked both Iginla and Thornton to "give him a few weeks" before the front office made any decisions on their status. However, Chiarelli added after the season that the Bruins are "trending away from that (fisticuffs) style." Staying In Jersey? New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello told Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger that he doesnt believe defenceman Adam Larsson would return to Sweden next season amid rumours that he was going back to play in his home country. New Job Coming TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported in Insider Trading on Wednesday that former Hockey Canada President and CEO Bob Nicholson will soon join the high ranks of an NHL team in a high executive capacity - above the level of president and below that of an NHL owner. Ken Campbell of The Hockey News added Wednesday that Nicholson has offers from Washington, Edmonton and Vancouver to be CEO, with the Capitals offering the most money. ' ' '