The Longest Win Streaks By Every NBA Franchise

Say what you want about NBA issues and ratings, but if you like(d) NBA basketball, you must watch this Wednesday's matchup between the red-hot Cavs and Thunder. Considering combined winning percentages, this will be the second-greatest regular season matchup in the history of the NBA, per Yahoo's Mike Goldfarb.

• 2016: GSW (40-4) vs SAS (38-6) = .886 win %
• 2024: CLE (31-4) vs OKC (30-5) = .871 win %
• 1972: LAL (39-3) vs MIL (35-8) = .870 win %

The Cavs are on a 10-game win streak that included a 31-point beatdown on the Wizards. Their current record of 31-4 (10-0 against the West) after 35 games is the fifth-best in NBA history.

The 30-5 Thunder are on a franchise-best 15-game winning streak. In the last of those wins, the best defense in the NBA held the defending Champion Celtics to just 27 second-half points! That win also gave the Thunder an 11-0 record vs the Eastern Conference.

Yeah, Wednesday's matchup is MUST SEE TV! In the meantime, let's look at the longest win streaks in every franchise's history and the longest overall streaks in the league's history.

LONGEST WIN STREAKS IN NBA HISTORY

LONGEST WIN STREAKS BY FRANCHISE

ATLANTA HAWKS

• STREAK: 19 Games
• SEASON: 2014/15
• ALL-STARS: Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap
• BROKEN BY: New Orleans Pelicans

Jeff Teague lreally is the Forrest Gump of the NBA. He has so many great stories to tell on his podcast because he seems to always be around great moments. One of those moments was being on the Hawks team that won 19 in a row. Despite team highs of 21 points and 7 assists, the Hawks streak ended when they lost by 15 to a Pelicans team with Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans.

This team also became the first No. 1 seed to get swept in the Playoffs in over a decade.

Top 10 Plays of the Atlanta Hawks' 19-Game Win Streak

BOSTON CELTICS

• STREAK: 19 Games
• SEASON: 2008/09
• ALL-STARS: Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce
• BROKEN BY: Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were the last team the defending champs wanted to lose to during their historic streak. And considering the Lakers lost to these Celtics in the NBA Finals, I'm sure Kobe, Pau, and the rest of the Lakers took great joy in this win, which saw the Celtics score just 16 points in the fourth quarter on Christmas day.

Lakers end the Celtics 19 Game WIN STREAK in Christmas

BROOKLYN/NEW JERSEY NETS

• STREAK: 14 Games
• SEASON: 2005/06
• ALL-STARS: Vince Carter
• BROKEN BY: Cleveland Cavs

One of the most exciting teams of the mid-00s was the Nets, with the trio of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and a rejuvenated All-Star in Vince Carter. Their franchise-best streak of 14 ended in the hands of a young LeBron James, who outscored Vince 37-33.

Vince Carter's Best Plays With The Nets

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

• STREAK: 10 Games
• SEASON: 1997/98
• ALL-STARS: NONE
• BROKEN BY: Washington Wizards

When you think of impressive Hornets teams from the 90s, you will probably think of the young squad with Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Kendall Gill, Muggsy Bogues, and Dell Curry. If not that team, then the one with Larry Johnson and All-Star Glen Rice after Zo's departure. But the LJ-less 1997/98 team with Anthony Mason went on a franchise-best 10-game win streak that ended when Chris Webber and the Wizards beat them 83-80. This game featured four quarters where a team failed to score 20 points, and the Hornets only scored 11 in the 3rd.

CHICAGO BULLS

• STREAK: 18 Games
• SEASON: 1995/96
• ALL-STARS: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen
• BROKEN BY: Denver Nuggets

Many consider the 72-10 Bulls to be the greatest team of all time. After the Pacers snapped their 13-game win streak, the Bulls went on an 18-game winning streak, which was eventually snapped by a Nuggets team that was on a recent 6-game losing streak. MJ had a game-high 39 points but Pippen had just 13 on 4-of-15 shooting. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf's 32 points led the Nuggets.

The two teams met again a month later, and the Bulls whooped them by 21.

Unstop-A-Bulls | The Chicago Bulls 1995-96 Championship Season

CLEVELAND CAVS

• STREAK: 15 Games
• SEASON: 2024/25
• ALL-STARS: TBD
• BROKEN BY: Boston Celtics

The current Cavs team, on a 10-game winning streak, set the record of 15 at the start of the season. The 15 is the second-best start to a season in NBA history, behind the Warriors' 24-0 start in 2015. The streak ended with a three-point loss to the defending champs, who shot 63% from three.

The previous record before this season was 13, set three times by a LeBron-led Cavs team: 2017/18, 2009/10, and 2008/09. Victor Oladipo (32 PTS) and the Pacers snapped the last of those streaks.

Celtics Snap Cavs' Undefeated 15-Game Win Streak | Inside the NBA

DALLAS MAVS

• STREAK: 17 Games
• SEASON: 2006/07
• ALL-STARS: Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard
• BROKEN BY: Golden State Warriors

This was the great Mavs season nobody in Dallas likes to discuss. The team had three streaks of 12+ wins, won a franchise-best 67 games, and became the third No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose to an 8 seed in the Playoffs. That No. 8 seed was the We Believe Warriors, the team that had ended the 17-game win streak earlier that season.

“We Believe” Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks - 2007 Playoff Series Lookback

DENVER NUGGETS

• STREAK: 15 Games
• SEASON: 2012/13
• ALL-STARS: None
• BROKEN BY: Golden State Warriors

It might surprise people to find out that the best Nuggets team (record-wise) not only didn't feature any Nuggets greats, but it didn't even have an All-Star. This team's leading scorers were Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari, and they led Denver to a franchise-best 57 games.

After the season, they fired Coach of the Year George Karl and traded Andre Iguodala to the Warriors, who ended their 15-game win streak and eliminated them in the playoffs. We all know how well that trade helped the Warriors and the Nuggets went five years before returning to the Playoffs.

Denver Nuggets Top 10 Plays of the 2013 Season

DETROIT PISTONS

• STREAK: 13 Games
• SEASON: 2003/04
• ALL-STARS: Ben Wallace
• BROKEN BY: Indiana Pacers

The Pistons had the second pick in one of the greatest drafts in NBA history, picked Darko Milicic, never played him, went on a franchise-best win streak, and won the NBA Championship. The biggest reason for this success was their defense, which held their opponents to less than 70 points 17 times that year.

The Pacers broke their streak by holding them to just 69 points, which included a 9-point first quarter.

How The ‘04 Pistons Shocked The NBA

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

• STREAK: 24 Games
• SEASON: 2015/16
• ALL-STARS: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
• BROKEN BY: Milwaukee Bucks

How does a defending Championship team start the season by winning 24 games, end the regular season with the most wins in NBA history (73), and not win a championship? The answer is LeBron James, who led the Cavs to a 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals. The Warriors responded by picking up Kevin Durant and winning back-to-back Championships.

As for that 24-game win streak, it was broken by a Bucks team that only got 11 points from Giannis but 28 from Greg Monroe.

Golden State Warriors Top 24 Plays of Historic Win Streak

HOUSTON ROCKETS

• STREAK: 22 Games
• SEASON: 2007/08
• ALL-STARS: Yao Ming
• BROKEN BY: Boston Celtics

Yao Ming was the Rockets' only All-Star this season, and they went on the fourth-longest win streak in NBA history without him for much of it. Who stepped up in place of the injured center? How about 41-year-old Dikembe Mutombo! Deke also had 7 x All-Star Tracy McGrady and Skip To My Lou playing the best ball of his life.

Not only did they shockingly win 22 in a row, but the last 10 of those were won by an average of 14.5 points. The Cinderella streak ended when KG and the Celtics came to town and destroyed them 94-74.

'08 Rockets 22-game Win Streak Top 10 Moments

INDIANA PACERS

• STREAK: 9 Games
• SEASON: 2013/14 | 2002/03
• ALL-STARS: Paul George, Roy Hibbert | Brad Miller, Jermaine O'Neal
• BROKEN BY: Chicago Bulls

Roy Hibbert is often called the last of the old-school big men. He made the All-Star team in 2012 and 2014; the next thing you know, he was out of the league. But he was great for this team that started the season with a 9-game win streak, lost to the Bulls, and then went on a 7-game win streak. They finished with the best record in the East (56-26) and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to eventual Champion Heatles.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

• STREAK: 17 Games
• SEASON: 2012/13
• ALL-STARS: Blake Griffin, Chris Paul
• BROKEN BY: Denver Nuggets

The Lob City Clippers were one of the most fun teams to watch during the early 2010s. They also had three of the franchise's four longest-win streaks during a four-year stretch. The longest of those streaks was 17, which ended when they faced the Nuggets during their 15-game win streak. They held Blake Griffin to just 12 points and Chris Paul to 10 points and 6 assists. Andre Miller led the way with 12 points and 12 assists.

Top 10: The Clippers 17-Game Win Streak

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

• STREAK: 33 Games
• SEASON: 1971/72
• ALL-STARS: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich
• BROKEN BY: Milwaukee Bucks

The longest streak in NBA history belongs to Wilt, the Logo, and the 1972 Lakers. Like many Wilt stats, winning 33 games in a row looks like an untouchable record. The streak was broken when they faced off against the dynamic Bucks duo of the Big O and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who outscored Wilt 39-15. The Lakers then lost four of their next six games before getting back on track and winning eight in a row.

They also got payback on the Bucks by beating them in the Western Conference Finals before winning the Championship against the Knicks.

NBA History Lakers 33 game Winning Streak a Sports Extreme video 1

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

• STREAK: 11 Games
• SEASON: 2022/23 | 2021/22
• ALL-STARS: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr
• BROKEN BY: Los Angeles Lakers

This was a roller-coaster season for the Grizzlies. The highs included a franchise-best 11-game win streak, and the lows were a bunch of Ja Morant off-the-court incidents that eventually led to a 25-game suspension. After having their win streak snapped by Russell Westbrook (season-high 29 points) and the Lakers, the Grizzlies went on a six-game losing streak. They met the No. 7 seed Lakers again in the first round of the Playoffs and lost.

Best Moments of the Memphis Grizzlies 10 GAME WIN STREAK!🔥 | 2022-23 Season

MIAMI HEAT

• STREAK: 27 Games
• SEASON: 2012/13
• ALL-STARS: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
• BROKEN BY: Chicago Bulls

This team looked unbeatable in the second half of the season. The Heatles won 27 straight games, lost a close game to the Bulls, and then won 11 of the final 12 games in the regular season. After sweeping the Bucks in the first round, they got payback on the Bulls with a gentlemen's sweep and went on to win back-to-back championships.

LeBron averaged 27 points (58% FG), 8 rebounds, and 8 assists during the Heat's historic win streak and was 1 vote short of being named unanimous MVP. He also had two game-winners during that streak.

Top 10 Plays of Miami's Historic Win Streak

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

• STREAK: 20 Games
• SEASON: 1970/71
• ALL-STARS: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson
• BROKEN BY: Chicago Bulls

A year before snapping the longest win streak in NBA history, the Bucks put together the longest win streak in their franchise history. Led by a second-year Kareem and the newly acquired Big O (they only had to trade Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk for him), the Bucks started the season winning 17 of their first 18, winning 20 straight near the end of the regular season and only losing two games in the playoffs before sweeping the Bullets in the NBA Finals.

As for the game that snapped their win streak, they lost in overtime to Bob Love and the Bulls.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

• STREAK: 11 Games
• SEASON: 2000/01
• ALL-STARS: Kevin Garnett
• BROKEN BY: Portland Trailblazers

Kevin Garnett was part of the longest streaks for two different franchises. Unlike his Celtics team, this team wasn't that good. They were the 8th seed in the West and were beaten 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs. But they had a hot month that saw them win 10 straight before being beaten by a deep Blazers team by 21.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

• STREAK: 10 Games
• SEASON: 2017/18 | 2010/11
• ALL-STARS: DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis
• BROKEN BY: Washington Wizards

Remember when New Orleans had the twin towers of Boogie Cousins and AD? The duo averaged over 55 points and 24 rebounds, each making the All-Star team. Surprisingly, the 10-game win streak happened without Boogie, who was out with a torn Achilles. The streak ended when AD had to sit out a game, and Nikola Mirotic started in his place and shot 3-of-11 against the Wizards.

The Pelicans other 10-game win streak happened during the Chris Paul and David West era. Their streak ended with a loss to Boogie Cousins and the Kings.

Anthony Davis & DeMarcus Cousins Pelicans Duo Was ELITE

NEW YORK KNICKS

• STREAK: 18 Games
• SEASON: 1969/70
• ALL-STARS: Dave DeBusshere, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed
• BROKEN BY: Detroit Pistons

Although Patrick Ewing and the 1992/93 Knicks team tied the 1969/70 Knicks record of 60 wins, the better Knicks team was the one that went on to win a franchise-best 18 games and the 1970 NBA Championship. This team also has arguably the most memorable moment in franchise history: an injured Willis Reed scored his first two buckets against Wilt and the Lakers in Game 7 of the Finals.

Despite everything said, the greatest Knicks team ever might be the 1972/73 one. They had all the Hall of Famers from the 1970 Championship team plus Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. No surprise, they also won a Championship.

I know most current NBA fans don't want to hear this, but Clyde and Pearl have a case for being the greatest backcourt in NBA history.

The "Willis Reed Game" - Sportscentury

OKLAHOMA THUNDER

• STREAK: 15 Games
• SEASON: 2024/25
• ALL-STARS: TBD
• BROKEN BY: TBD

Like the Cavs, this year's Thunder team has the longest streak in franchise history. The scariest part is that they are doing it without Chet Holmgren, and they have four first-round picks in next year's NBA Draft and nine over the next three Drafts.

The previous longest streak belonged to the 1995/96 Sonics, who won a franchise-best 64 games and lost to the 72-10 Bulls in the NBA Finals.

ORLANDO MAGIC

• STREAK: 9 Games
• SEASON: 2023/24, 2010/11, 2000/01, 1994/95
• ALL-STARS: Shaq and Penny (94/95)
• BROKEN BY: TBD

I'm surprised the Magic franchise never had a team win 10 in a row. Of the four teams that have won nine, I'll revisit the one that went to the NBA Finals.

The 1994/95 Magic team looked like the team of the future, with a third-year Shaq, second-year Penny Hardaway, and Michael Jordan playing baseball. The 10-game streak included a 35-point win against the Heat, a 25-point win against Ewing and the Knicks, and a 23-point win against Hakeem and the Rockets. This team also had a 39-2 home record, the second-best in NBA history. Despite the young roster, they were the favorites to beat the defending champs in the NBA Finals and got swept.

The Magic won a franchise-best 60 games in the following season, but they had to face Jordan and the 72-10 Bulls in the playoffs and got swept.

How the Magic fell from the Shaq-Penny '90s powerhouse to the NBA's basement

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

• STREAK: 16 Games
• SEASON: 2017/18
• ALL-STARS: Joel Embiid
• BROKEN BY: Nobody in the regular season

The 2017 NBA Draft still haunts some 76ers fans. They had the first overall pick and used it on Markelle Fultz, who missed most of the season with injuries and never turned out to be the player they wanted. If that wasn't bad enough, the team started the season with a .500 record after 50 games. Then something clicked, and they won 27 of the remaining 32 games, including the final 16.

The streak lasted just one game in the Playoffs after losing Game 2 of the first round to the Miami Heat. After winning the next three, they faced the Celtics and lost four out of five. The same Celtics that traded that No. 1 pick to the Sixers and took Jayson Tatum with the third.

76ers Set Franchise Record 15 Game Win Streak! 2017-18 Season

PHOENIX SUNS

• STREAK: 18 Games
• SEASON: 2021/22
• ALL-STARS: Devin Booker, Chris Paul
• BROKEN BY: Golden State Warriors

After losing four of the season's first five games, the 2021 NBA Finalists caught fire with 18 straight wins. The loss came in the hands of Steph Curry and the eventual 2022 NBA Champions. After the game, CP3 said the streak was a lot of fun, "but hell, let's start a new one." The next win streak lasted just two games.

They did end up with the best record in the West (64-18) but lost in the Western Conference Semifinal with an embarrassing 33-point loss in Game 7.

All 19 Warriors 3-pointers to end the Suns’ 18-game win streak | NBA on ESPN

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

• STREAK: 16 Games
• SEASON: 1990/91
• ALL-STARS: Clyde Drexler, Kevin Duckworth, Terry Porter
• BROKEN BY: Phoenix Suns

The early 90s Blazers are known as one of the greatest teams never to win a championship. The 90/91 season looked like the year they were going to go all the way, with three NBA All-Stars and a franchise-best 63 wins. They went into the Playoffs winning 16 straight before losing the season's final game to the Suns behind 23 points and 14 assists from Kevin Johnson.

After beating the Sonics and Jazz in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers were beaten 4-2 by the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers would lose to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA Finals. The Blazers took the Lakers' place the following year as the team to lose to MJ and the Bulls, and then the Suns took the Blazers' place the following year.

Running Down A Dream: 1991 Portland Trailblazers

SACRAMENTO KINGS

• STREAK: 12 Games
• SEASON: 2001/02
• ALL-STARS: Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic
• BROKEN BY: Portland Trailblazers

This early 00s Kings team can relate to that early 90s Blazers team. This Kings team won a franchise-best 61 wins, has the franchise's longest win streak (12), and ended their year with a loss to the Lakers in the playoffs.

The Blazers snapped their streak of 12 wins in an overtime thriller with three players scoring over 33: Chris Webber (34), Bonzi Wells (34), and Rasheed Wallace (33).

The Kings' second-longest streak (11) also came during this season. This time, the Mavs and the backcourt of Steve Nash (21 points and 13 assists) and Nick Van Exel (27 points) snapped the streak.

How the best ever Sacramento Kings team missed the NBA Finals, then deteriorated

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

• STREAK: 19 Games
• SEASON: 2013/14
• ALL-STARS: Tony Parker
• BROKEN BY: OKC Thunder

If you ask a Spurs fan what their favorite Championship is, they will likely say the 2014 one against the Miami Heat, when a young Kawhi Leonard won Finals MVP. The Spurs finished the season with the best record in the league (62-20) and looked unbeatable in the season's final months. During the final four wins of the franchise-best 19 in a row, they had wins by 16, 21, 26, and 31.

The streak ended in a loss to the KD and Russ show in OKC. The Spurs got payback when they eliminated the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, which included an overtime win in Game 7. The hero of that game? Boris Diaw!

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Stop the Spurs' Win Streak at 19

TORONTO RAPTORS

• STREAK: 15 Games
• SEASON: 2019/20
• ALL-STARS: Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam
• BROKEN BY: Brooklyn Nets

You probably expected a Vince Carter team or the 2019 Championship one with Kawhi Leonard. Many don't remember that the defending champs had the second-best record in the league after losing Kawhi. Siakam not only made his first All-Star team, but he was also named a starter and made the All-NBA 2nd Team! Unfortunately, he had a rough night going for win number 16 in a row, and the Nets came away with the W behind 20 points from Caris LeVert.

The Raptors paid them back by sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Toronto Raptors Extend Win Streak To 15!

UTAH JAZZ

• STREAK: 15 Games
• SEASON: 1996/97
• ALL-STARS: Karl Malone, John Stockton
• BROKEN BY: Los Angeles Lakers

You know the story: a talented team with hall of famers dominates the regular season, then faces Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals, and the league MVP goes summer fishing without a ring. This was the case for MVP Karl Malone and the 97 Jazz, who won 19 of the final 20 games of the season and had two separate 15-game win streaks.

The one loss during the final 20 games of the year was on a turnaround jumper by the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal (39 points). Like many of the streak-breakers mentioned, payback came in the playoffs. The Jazz beat the Lakers in five games during the Western Conference Semifinals, the final game being most known as the game Kobe Bryant shot four straight airballs.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

• STREAK: 9 Games
• SEASON: 2001/02
• ALL-STARS: Michael Jordan
• BROKEN BY: Charlotte Hornets

This is the only example of a team having the longest win streak in franchise history and not even making the playoffs. The 2001/02 Wizards were so bad that they finished with the 10th-best record in the East. But most people didn't care because they were just happy to see Michael Jordan in the NBA again.

What might surprise you is that Jordan wasn't that special during this win streak. He only averaged 20 points and 6 assists. The streak ended when Baron Davis and the Hornets beat them. After another loss, the Wizards and Hornets had a rematch, and this time, MJ went off for 51 points in a win. He followed that game up with 45 points, and the Wizards won four straight.

The following season was Jordan's final, and no other team ever had to have a great season ruined by that man again.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS: Michael Jordan's NBA return to the Washington Wizards 🪄 | ESPN Throwback