SAN ANTONIO — The visitor’s locker room. Where was it? Brett Brown had been inside the AT&T Center hundreds of times over a dozen years as director of player development and assistant coach for the Spurs. But now Brown was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, walking an unfamiliar corridor. He had lost his way, not unlike his team, which had been adrift for two months.

This swing through Texas — Monday in San Antonio, Thursday in Houston — would provide either liberation or ignominy. Two defeats and the Sixers would tie the N.B.A.’s longest losing streak, 26 games, set by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach.

There was a new player to greet, the 22nd to play for the Sixers this season. Casper Ware, a rookie guard from Long Beach State by way of Italy. Players came and went so often — only eight had been around for the entire losing streak — that Philadelphia’s locker room seemed more like an airline terminal. On Monday, Brown had no time for lengthy introductions.

“Nice to meet you,” he told Ware. “Play defense. And make shots.”

A makeshift jersey was waiting. Scott Rego, the equipment manager, thought Ware would join the team a week or so earlier and had No. 12 prepared. But forward James Nunnally came instead, and he took No. 12. So the 2 was stripped off the jersey originally meant for Ware and replaced with a 7. Just like that, 12 became 17.