short takes

A date with history?

If the Philadelphia 76ers keep going as they have been — terribly — they will come to Target Center on Wednesday with the chance to tie the NBA record for most consecutive losses to start a season.

They entered the weekend 0-15 with home games against Dallas and San Antonio before they'd play a Wolves team reeling in its own way.

The 76ers' 0-15 start is fifth-worst in NBA history, behind New Jersey's 18 losses to start the 2009-10 season, Miami's 17 its very first season (1988-89) and the Los Angeles Clippers' 17 in the 1999-2000 lockout-shortened season. The Clippers lost 16 games to start the 1994-95 season as well.

The 76ers know how this goes: Their 26-game losing streak last season tied Cleveland (2010-11) for the NBA's longest ever.

Uphill climb

Oklahoma City welcomed Russell Westbrook back Friday, a step in getting both him and injured Kevin Durant healthy again. Without them basically all season, the Thunder started 4-12. For the Thunder to reach the 49 victories it took Dallas to earn the West's final playoff spot last season, it'll have to go 45-21 the rest of the way.

Wacky schedule

First the NBA sent the Wolves on a six-game, 12-day trip that covered more than 5,500 air miles and included a stop in Mexico City.

Now they're sending the Wolves from Los Angeles to Portland and back again to play three games in four nights. The Wolves played the Lakers on Friday, then flew to Portland to play the Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

They return to Staples Center on Monday to play the Clippers. Go figure.