As we head into the second half of the NBA season, momentum could be crucial for those teams eyeing the play-offs and challenging for the title.
The Phoenix Suns have the longest winning streak so far this term, with 18 victories in a row between the end of October and start of December.
We’ve taken a look at the longest winning runs in NBA history, with a list of the top five success stories.
1. Los Angeles Lakers – 33 games
Back in the 1971-72 campaign, the LA Lakers were the team to beat with the likes of legends Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West in their ranks.
It wasn’t a big surprise to see them go on to lift the trophy and en route to the final, the Lakers notched up 33 straight wins which remains the longest streak in NBA history.
LA ended the regular season top of the Western Conference with a 69-13 record and they went on to beat the New York Knicks 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
2. Golden State Warriors – 28 games
The most recent winning run on the list comes across two seasons, with Golden State Warriors racking up 28 victories in a row.
Led by Steph Curry, GSW lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 2014-2015 season – finishing the regular season with a 67-15 record.
They then continued their unbeaten run at the start of the next campaign and they only just fell short of back-to-back titles, losing in the final to Cleveland Cavaliers.
3. Miami Heat – 27 games
Another team that enjoyed a long winning run when winning the title, were the 2012-2013 Miami Heat team.
LeBron James was the season MVP and played a huge role in bringing the trophy to Florida, beating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Miami finished top of the Eastern Conference with a 66-16 record and during the regular season, Erik Spoelstra’s men went on a run of 27 unbeaten games.
4. Houston Rockets – 22 games
The first team in the top five who didn’t win the title during their memorable season are the Houston Rockets.
From January 29 to March 18 2008, the Rockets – who included Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady in their roster – went on a run of 22 consecutive wins.
Houston eventually finished fifth in the West, making the play-offs but eventually losing 4-2 to Utah Jazz in the first round.
5. Milwaukee Bucks / Washington Capitols – 20 games
Two teams share fifth place on the list, with the Washington Capitols and Milwaukee Bucks both enjoying 20-game unbeaten runs.
The Capitols achieved the feat over two regular seasons – 1947-48 and 1948-49 – while the Bucks claimed 20 in a row during the 1970-71.
Milwaukee went on to win the NBA title that season, with a 4-0 clean sweep over Baltimore in the Finals.
