The longest winning streaks in NBA history

Well, it was fun while it lasted. The Phoenix Suns, after a shaky 1-3 start, just kept piling up wins. Devin Booker and Chris Paul remain killers from midrange, Mikal Bridges’ impossibly long arms gave opposing stars fits, and Deandre Ayton picked up right where he left off after an impressive first playoff appearance. A top-three defensive rating was the key, as well as an incredible +53.5 net rating in the clutch (an area all Chris Paul teams seem to thrive).

The winning streak finally came to an end in an all too understandable fashion. After losing Booker to a hamstring strain in their stirring victory against the Warriors in Phoenix, they were routed by Golden State in their rematch in the Bay.

Winning in the NBA is hard. And for all the time and words spent talking about trades and off-court drama, winning is ultimately what matters. So today, in honor of the Phoenix Suns’ now-finished franchise-record 18-game winning streak, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to pay tribute to the five longest winnings streaks in NBA history.

Please note that this list only considers winning streaks within a single regular season, so no credit for continuing the streak in the playoffs or over the course of multiple seasons.

5. 1970-71 MILWAUKEE BUCKS: 20 WINS

The 70s Milwaukee Bucks were the first NBA team to win 20 games in a row, just three years into their existence. And it’s a testament to just how difficult winning 20 straight is to do that their accomplishment still leaves them as the fifth-longest winning streak of all-time many years later. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) led them to their first NBA championship that year.

4. 2008-09 HOUSTON ROCKETS: 22 WINS

The fourth-longest streak in NBA history was by the Houston Rockets in the 2008-09 season. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were in All-NBA form, and Shane Battier was just inventing the "3 and D" player archetype. But despite rattling off 22 straight wins, the Rockets only finished third in their division and fifth in the Western Conference.

The Rockets were just too banged up with injuries to keep the momentum going in the postseason, and would not return to the playoffs until the James Harden era began in 2013.

3. 2015-16 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: 24 WINS

It’s hard to believe it now, but in the aftermath of the first Golden State Warriors championship of the Steph Curry era, a lot of people thought it was a fluke. The jump-shooting team skepticism didn’t disappear over night, and the vanquished Cleveland Cavaliers had been decimated by injuries. Cue the Jordan meme: "The Warriors took that personally".

The Warriors didn’t lose until the 25th game of the year against the Bucks and ended up with the all-time regular-season mark of 73 wins. After losing in the Finals though, the streak also serves as a cautionary tale about going all-in before the playoffs.

Regular season basketball may never be this fun again.

2. 2012-13 HEAT: 27 WINS

While there were "Big Threes" before the "Big Three", the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh triumvirate is emblematic of the modern era of basketball. And after capturing their first title as a trio the prior season, they played with a newfound freedom that was completely captivating. 

Their blitzing pick and roll defense, combined with the interior dominance of Wade and James and the transformation of Bosh into the archetypal small-ball five reached its zenith during the winning streak, and their eventual victory over the San Antonio Spurs in one of the best NBA Finals series ever played.

1. 1971-72 LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 33 WINS

The Los Angeles Lakers established one of the NBA's most unbreakable records in 1971-72 when they rattled off a staggering 33 wins in a row. That number is not only the longest in the NBA by a wide margin, it’s also the longest winning streak in all of American professional team sports.

That team was truly stacked with talent, and included Hall of Famers Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Gail Goodrich. Ironically, the streak began one game after 11-time All-Star Elgin Baylor retired due to injury.