Update: The Miami Heat win streak is over at 27 games. That is the second longest win streak in NBA history, and also the second longest win streak in American professional sports history.
These are the ten teams (12 listed due to ties) that have won the most consecutive games in a row in NBA history during the regular season. The teams with the longest win streaks in NBA history. Most of these win streaks occurred over one season, but a few carried over from one season to the next.
Seven of the 12 teams listed won NBA championships in the season the win streak occurred. In some cases, the win streak ran from one season to the next. Having a long win streak does not guarantee a team will win a championship that season, but that proves to be the case more often than not.
Some of these teams are the greatest in NBA history.
Teams with the longest win streaks in NBA history
1. 1972 Los Angeles Lakers - 33 games
The 1972 Los Angeles Lakers hold the NBA record for having won the most consecutive games in a row at 33. The 1972 Lakers began their win streak on November 5, 1971 against the Baltimore Bullets.
The Lakers then won 33 straight games, lasting until they were finally defeated on January 9, 1972, by the Milwaukee Bucks. The record 33 game win streak included one OT win on December 10, 1971, vs the Phoenix Suns.
Seventeen of the Lakers record win streak of 33 games were at home, while 16 were on the road. The Bucks team that ended the streak had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson on it.
The 1972 Los Angeles Lakers ended up with a 69-13 record, and they won the NBA championship that season. Their .841 win percentage is the second highest for a team in a season in NBA history.
2. Miami Heat - 27
The Miami Heat won 27 straight games during the 2012-13 NBA season. Twelve of the wins were on the road, and 15 came at home. The win streak, which began on February 3, 2013, vs the Toronto Raptors, included a double OT win vs the Sacramento Kings.
The streak ended when the Chicago Bulls beat the Heat, 101-97, on March 27, 2013, in Chicago.
3. 2008 Houston Rockets - 22
The 2008 Houston Rockets won 22 consecutive games for the second longest win streak in NBA history. The Rockets win streak went from January 29, 2008, to March 18, 2008.
There were no OT wins during the streak, and only seven of the 22 wins were on the road. So the Rockets won 15 of the 22 games at home. The 2008 Houston Rockets went 55-27 on the season, and were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Utah Jazz.
T-4. 1971 Milwaukee Bucks - 20
Led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks won 20 straight games from February 6, 1971, to March 8, 1971. The 20 game win streak had no OT wins, but the game when the streak ended against the Chicago Bulls was an OT loss.
Nine of the games were on the road, 10 were at home, and one was played at a supposed neutral site in Madison, Wisconsin. The 1971 Milwaukee Bucks went 66-16, and won the NBA championship that season. The team also had a 16 game win streak in 1971.
T-4. 1948-49 Washington Capitols - 20
Stretching over two seasons, the 1948-49 Washington Capitols won 20 straight games from March 13, 1948, to December 7, 1948. The win streak included five games from the 1948 season, and 15 from the 1949 season. and also included a triple OT win.
The Capitols made the made the playoffs in both seasons, but did not win a championship. They lost in the NBA Finals in 1949. Red Auerbach was the team's coach.
T-6. 2009 Boston Celtics - 19
The 2009 Boston Celtics won 19 straight games from November 15, 2008, to December 25, 2008. The win streak included two OT wins, with seven wins coming on the road, and 12 at home.
The 2008 Celtics went 62-20, but lost in the semifinals of the playoffs to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
T-6. 2000 Los Angeles Lakers - 19
Led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the 2000 Los Angeles Lakers won 19 straight games from February 4, 2000, to March 16, 2000. The win streak included one OT win, with 10 games coming on the road, including six road wins in a row.
The 2000 Lakers also had a 16 game win streak that season. The team had a record of 67-15, and they won the 2000 NBA Championship.
T-8. 1996 Chicago Bulls - 18
Set NBA record for best winning season with record of 72-10 (.878). Team won NBA championship.
T-8. 1982 Boston Celtics - 18
Team went 63-19. Lost to Philadelphia 76ers in conference finals.
T-8. 1970 New York Knicks - 18
Team went 60-22. Won Knicks first NBA championship.
T-8. 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers - 18
Streak included 11 games form 1966 season, and seven games from 1967. Team went 68-13 (.840) for fourth best win percentage, and won NBA championship in 1967.
T-8. 1950-51 Rochester Royals - 18
Streak included 15 games from 1950 season, and three more games in 1951. The 1951 team won the NBA championship.
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