Despite holding a 10-point lead with less than 10 minutes left, the Washington Wizards lost 100-93 to the Houston Rockets Monday. The loss gives the Wizards a 0-15 record on the road, making them the only team in the NBA without a win away from their home arena. Two months without a road win makes one wonder how long any team has ever gone without winning a road game. Unfortunately for Washington, they are not too far from setting the record.
The NBA record for most consecutive road losses to start a season is held by the 1992-1993 Dallas Mavericks, who lost their first 29 road games. Going further, the most consecutive road losses in general is 43, set by the 1990-1991 Sacramento Kings, who actually lost the first six road games of the 1991-1992 season to stretch the record.
Washington's next five road games come against mediocre opponents; the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. With the aforementioned teams struggling to win just like the WIzards, perhaps Washington can finally get a win on the road. That way, they can avoid one record. Only one team has ever gone through an entire season without a road win. That was set by the Wizards' predecessors, the Baltimore Bullets, in 1953-1954. Bad omen? Maybe.