Win Streak No More: Bulls Snap 76ers' Conference-Leading Run

Heading into their Monday night matchup against the Chicago Bulls, the Philadelphia 76ers were rolling. With a favorable schedule in front of them, the Sixers lined up each opponent and served them convincing losses.

It started in early December when the Sixers squeezed by the Washington Wizards on the road and picked up a 131-126 win. That victory snapped a two-game losing streak. From then on, the Sixers put together a handful of blowout victories, which helped them climb up the Eastern Conference ranks.

A 125-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks made it two in a row. When the Sixers hosted the Wizards, they dominated by collecting a 146-101 win. Then, the Sixers paid a visit to the Detroit Pistons and took them down with a 129-111 win. Two nights later, the Pistons went to Philadelphia and came up short with a 125-92 loss.

The Sixers closed out last week’s slate by collecting their most dominant win of the season against the Charlotte Hornets. Hitting the road for a one-game trip, the Sixers defeated Charlotte 135-82. With that, the Sixers collected their sixth-straight victory before hosting the Bulls on Monday.

The Streak Concludes…

Nothing lasts forever. While the Sixers were rolling, putting together their most successful stretch of the season recently, the Bulls managed to put a stop to it.

In a tight game, which featured five lead changes and each team garnering a lead as big as 12 at one point, the Bulls’ big first half was just enough to prevent the Sixers from completing a comeback in the second half.

The 76ers dropped Monday’s matchup and took on a 108-104 loss. With their win streak cleared, they no longer hold the Eastern Conference’s longest active streak. That crown now goes to the first-seeded Boston Celtics, who’ve won their last five games.

The Milwaukee Bucks are right behind the Celtics, as they are currently rolling as well. Winning eight of their last ten games, the Bucks have won four in a row at this point.

Philadelphia will get an opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will serve as their toughest matchup in quite some time, considering the Wolves are currently the top team in the Western Conference. In their first meeting against Minnesota, a shorthanded Sixers team couldn’t take care of business on the road on the second night of a back-to-back set.

With some rest and better health this time around, the Sixers are expected to put up a better fight.