DALLAS — Yes, it was that ugly.
Actually, it might have been worse.
The Sixers fell to the Dallas Mavericks in demoralizing fashion on Thursday night, 123-70. It was their third-worst loss in franchise history and dropped their record to 0-8.
Turning point
The game was over almost as soon as it started. The Sixers scored 10 first-quarter points, their season low for the first 12 minutes.
They allowed Dallas to score 38 points in the frame, a season-high for any of their opponents in the first quarter. The Mavericks shot 55.6 percent from the floor and made all 14 of their free throw attempts.
Follow the leader
Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points in 20 minutes. He did not play the fourth quarter. Monta Ellis had 17 points and sat the final 12 minutes as well.
NBA
Michael Carter-Williams made his season debut but did not start. He scored a team-high 19 points on 6 of 19 shooting. Carter-Williams added eight rebounds, five assists and six turnovers.
Nerlens Noel played 29 minutes in his first game back after dealing with a sprained ankle. He had five points, seven rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.
Stat-egic
The Sixers trailed 73-29 at intermission, setting a new franchise record for a halftime deficit.
The previous mark was set in 1989 when the Sixers were down 78-37 to the Hawks at the half. Those Sixers lost 135-93 with a roster that included Charles Barkley, Maurice Cheeks, Mike Gminski and Hersey Hawkins.
The 44-point halftime deficit tied the 1967 Celtics for second-largest deficit at intermission.
Take a bow
K.J. McDaniels made his first-ever NBA start and scored eight points in 25 minutes.
What's next?
The task gets tougher Friday night when the Sixers play at Houston. The Rockets lead the Southwest Division with a 7-1 record.
They beat the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 104-93. James Harden led all scorers with 35 points. Tony Wroten had 20 points to lead the Sixers and Noel had a career-high six steals.