NEW YORK (REUTER) - Someone is going to be the unfortunate first team to lose to the winless Philadelphia 76ers. It could be the Houston Rockets in the next game. Or the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

But the Boston Celtics wanted to make sure it was not them, sending the Sixers into the National Basketball Association history books with a stunning late comeback and an 84-80 victory on Wednesday.

"You guys know how much of a disappointment it would have been," Jae Crowder said after his second three-pointer of the comeback gave the Celtics the lead with 38.5 seconds left. "Very, very, very disappointing to all of us, coaches and players."

The Celtics, down by 11 midway through the fourth quarter with their home fans booing, used an 18-3 charge in the final 6:02 for the win.

Philadelphia (0-16) dropped their 26th straight game, dating back to last season, to match the record for consecutive losses by a North American pro sports team.

The Sixers also have a shot at the all-time record of 18 consecutive losses at the start of an NBA season, set by the 2009 New Jersey Nets.