MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Cleveland Cavaliers are haunted again by losing No. 23.

The Cavaliers matched the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history, dropping their 23rd straight game with a 112-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

The Cavs tied the 1995-96 Grizzlies, then in Vancouver, and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets for longest skid in one season, and can equal their own overall mark for futility with a loss in Saturday night’s game at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cleveland lost 24 straight games spanning the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

“Watching the guys in the locker room, the one thing I can say is guys are very disappointed in the way we finished the game,” Cleveland coach Byron Scott said. “And maybe that’s a good thing.”

One season after losing LeBron James, who led the Cavs to the league’s best record the last two seasons while wearing No. 23, Cleveland (8-42) clinched a losing record.

“Everybody was really quiet with their heads down,” said center J.J. Hickson, who matched his career best with 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. “We’re not playing to lose. We’re not going out there trying to lose.”