76ERS DON'T SHOOT THEIR NUMBER IN RECORD 66-57 LOSS.

Byline: Associated Press 

The Philadelphia 76ers stumbled into the NBA record books Wednesday night with the league's worst offensive performance in 41 years.

The Sixers managed only 57 points in a 66-57 loss to Miami, tying the record for fewest points set by the Milwaukee Hawks against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 27, 1955 at Providence, R.I., during the first season of the 24-second clock.

"There's no excuses for something like this," said Philadelphia coach John Lucas, whose squad dropped its fifth straight. "During a season, you'll have four or five games when you're flat, but not that flat."

The Heat didn't fare much better, shooting just 37.7 percent and missing 11 of 13 3-pointers.

"I looked up at the scoreboard a couple of times and did a double-take, but we'll take any win we can get," said Pat Riley, whose team had lost nine of its past 10 on the road.

The combined total of 123 points was the second-lowest in NBA history since the inception of the shot clock. The Hawks and Celtics managed a combined 119 points in their 1955 game.

The Sixers have lost 41 of 51 games this season, but none was this ugly.

They made just 22 of 69 field goals (31.9 percent) and misfired on 18 of 19 3-pointers. Throw in 19 turnovers, and it's easy to see why they scored just 24 second-half points - tying another NBA record.

Derrick Alston made a free throw, but missed his second with 41 seconds left to put Philadelphia at 57 points. With 10 seconds to go, Alston missed a short baseline shot and Weatherspoon missed a follow shot.

Miami then dribbled out the clock.

Alonzo Mourning had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Billy Owens added 16 points and 11 rebounds.