There's something inherently cool about a winning streak. That short window of perfection when every regular season game holds a little more drama because if the team loses, they're not just losing the game, they're losing the streak! And the longer the streak goes, the more special it gets. So with the chase for perfection in mind, here are the four longest regular season win streaks in NBA history.
Houston Rockets, 2007-08 (22 games)
How It Started: Jan. 29, 2008
A bit of a spoiler here, but the Rockets are one of two teams on this list not to win a championship, getting knocked out by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. But we're talking regular season win streaks here. The Rockets streak started with an intense 111-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The streak would continue well into March, with the Rockets not losing a single game in the month of February.
How It Ended: March 18, 2008
The winning ways would come to an end with a 94-74 loss to the Boston Celtics, who would go on to win the NBA championship that year. If your streak is gonna end, it might as well be at the hands of the champs.
Miami Heat, 2012-13 (27 Games)
How It Started: February 3, 2013
Oh yes, that time Lebron James took his talents to South Beach. While the team didn’t jell immediately, they did eventually win back-to-back NBA titles. This 27-game winning streak during their second championship run that began with a decisive win over the Toronto Raptors was the icing on an already tasty cake.
How It Ended: March 27, 2013
For over 50 days, the Heat would know only victory before running into a scrappy Chicago Bulls squad who managed to ink out a 101-97 win over the Heat at home. After that, the Heat would win 10 out of their next 11 games, including eight straight wins down the stretch, before eventually beating the Spurs 4-3 in the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors, 2014-16 (28 Games)
How It Started: April 9, 2015
The second-longest regular season winning streak in NBA history began with the Warriors’ 116-105 win over the Trail Blazers. It was the start of a season-ending four-game winning streak. Golden State carried that momentum into the 2014-15 playoffs en route to the franchise’s first championship since 1974-75.
How It Ended: Dec. 12, 2015
The best regular season in NBA history began with 24 straight wins. It took until almost Christmas before the Warriors lost their first game, a 108-95 setback against the Milwaukee Bucks. Golden State won 73 games that season, topping the previous record of 72 wins set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Unlike those Bulls, the Warriors would not win a title, losing 4-3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015-16 NBA Finals thanks in large part to LeBron James’ pin block heard around the world.
Los Angeles Lakers, 1971-72 (33 Games)
How It Started: Nov. 5, 1971
One of the best teams in NBA history, the 1971-72 Lakers would win their sixth NBA title this season along with earning the then-record for the most regular season wins at 69-13. Their NBA record 33-game winning streak began with a 110-106 win over the Baltimore Bullets.
How It Ended: Jan. 9, 1972
The Lakes would enjoy over two months of perfection before finally losing to the Milwaukee Bucks 120-104. They'd brush off the loss and continue on to complete a record-breaking season before decimating the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals 4-1.
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