You can say the Philadelphia 76ers have been consistent this season by losing all 17 of their games. But in threatening and breaking records for pro-sports futility, at least the 76ers have varied the ways they have lost.

On Wednesday, the 76ers squandered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Celtics. On Friday, they trailed the Rockets most of the game but threatened late.

The 76ers took a 99-97 lead with 7:45 left in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t until five minutes remained that the Rockets took the lead for good.

It was their 17th consecutive loss, tying the second-longest losing streak to start a season in NBA history and moving within one loss from tying the record.

Dating to last season, the 76ers’ losing streak is 27 games, the longest losing streak by a team in any major North American sport.

Before the 2013-14 season, one NBA team had lost 25 straight games. Since then, the 76ers have done it twice.

Based on Friday morning’s ESPN Basketball Power Index calculations, the 76ers have a 42.4 percent chance to start 0-19, which would be the worst start to an NBA season in history.

The 76ers play the Grizzlies in Memphis on Sunday (87.9 percent chance to lose) and play the Lakers in Philadelphia on Tuesday (48.3 percent likely to lose). Tuesday’s game is the only remaining game that BPI gives the 76ers a better than 50 percent chance to win.

In addition to extending their losing streak, the 76ers gave up a season high in points to an opposing player Friday. James Harden scored 50 points, surpassing the previous opponent’s season high (Paul George, 34 points on Nov. 18) by 16 points.