Sixers Lose 8th Straight, Fall to Jazz 105-100

After two straight 40-plus point defeats, a five-point loss almost feels like a win. Almost, but not quite.

By Roy Burton@TheBSLine Feb 13, 2014, 9:06am EST

Much like Sway, Michael Carter-Williams doesn't have the answers.

The last time Michael Carter-Williams and Trey Burke went head-to-head on a basketball court, the two were largely marginalized as Burke's Michigan Wolverines claimed a five-point victory over MCW's Syracuse Orange in the Final Four last season.

Wednesday night's game wasn't much different.

The reigning Rookies of the Month combined to shoot 9-for-25 last night and watched as Jazz shooting guard Alec Burks scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead Utah (19-33) to a 105-100 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (15-39).

A poor showing by the bench - the 76ers' reserves were outscored by the Jazz backups to the tune of 56-10 - completely negated the relatively solid performance by the first unit. Each of the Sixers' starters ended the night with 15 points or more, led by Evan Turner's 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting.

Thaddeus Young (19 points, five rebounds) and Spencer Hawes (16 points, 11 rebounds) both entered the All-Star break on a high note, and Carter-Williams had what may have been his most productive game in the past few weeks (19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two steals).

The Sixers had plenty of chances to win on Wednesday (especially with Derrick Favors leaving early due to a strained right hip), but they could never find a way to get over the hump. A late 15-2 run helped Philadelphia tie the contest at 91 before Burks scored nine points in a 94-second stretch that ultimately iced the game.

It's been a while since Philadelphia left Salt Lake City with a win: The Sixers haven't beaten Utah on the road since January 5, 2005. To put that in perspective, Nerlens Noel was 10 years old at the time, "How I Met Your Mother" hadn't even debuted yet, and the No. 1 song in America was Mario's "Let Me Love You."

(Editor's Note: The box score from that game is nothing short of magical. A game-high 30 points from Kenny Thomas. A 35.7% usage rate from Allen Iverson. Matt Harping! Gordan Giricek! Keith McLeod! It's a miracle the Sixers didn't win by 57 that night).

The loss was the eighth straight defeat for the Sixers, who fell to 3-18 in their past 21 outings. And with only 28 games left on the docket, the 76ers are essentially two-thirds of the way through what feels like one of the longest seasons in recent memory.

After the All-Star break, the Sixers kick off a five-game homestand against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. That also happens to be the last game before next Thursday's trade deadline, so it may be the last chance we see Turner, Hawes and/or Young don the home whites at the Wells Fargo Center.

Remember that 3-0 start? Neither do we.

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