Suns Close to NBA History After Breaking Team Record with Win Streak?

The Phoenix Suns stacked them high, one after the other. Setting the foundation with a shaky win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 30th, it feels fair to say they had no idea what they were constructing back then, even despite their confidence as a team.

But they kept on building anyway, winning every contest which came their way. As weeks passed, the Suns strung together a jaw-dropping series of victories—an 18 step staircase which allowed them to climb atop the Western Conference.

Now looking down upon everyone, the Suns today own a league best 19-3 record, with their win streak having just broken a franchise record set by the 2006-07 Phoenix team. But with this accomplishment, one cannot help but wonder how high Phoenix’s “winning staircase” will grow, and how far away they stand from making NBA history with it.

To address the matter upfront, significant distance separates the Suns from such an achievement.

The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers currently lay claim to the all-time record, as they won 33 straight games. That team’s roster included NBA legends Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. For Phoenix to surpass that mark, they need to win 16 straight games now—almost doubling their current stretch.

The Suns find themselves facing a serious threat against their win streak already tonight, going up against the 18-3 Golden State Warriors. They also just lost leading scorer Devin Booker for the foreseeable future due to a hamstring injury, certain to make the team more vulnerable.

But even if Phoenix slides past the Warriors with win No. 19 tonight, their chances to give the ’71-’72 Lakers some company still look dreary. Their schedule looks as such:

• Dec. 6 vs San Antonio Spurs
• Dec. 10 vs Boston Celtics
• Dec. 13 at Los Angeles Clippers
• Dec. 14 at Portland Trail Blazers
• Dec. 16 vs Washington Wizards
• Dec.19 vs Charlotte Hornets
• Dec. 21 at Los Angeles Lakers
• Dec. 23 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
• Dec. 25 vs Golden State Warriors
• Dec. 27 vs Memphis Grizzlies
• Dec. 29 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
• Dec. 31 at Boston Celtics
• Jan. 2 at Charlotte Hornets
• Jan. 4 at New Orleans Pelicans
• Jan. 6 vs Los Angeles Clippers

Those next fifteen opponents standing between the Suns and history own a collective .489 winning percentage. Matchups against the Clippers (twice), the Boston Celtics (twice), the Golden State Warriors (again), the Washington Wizards, and the Memphis Grizzlies also pose some danger.

While the Suns can surely maintain the league’s top record during this slate, it feel increasingly unlikely that they keep their win streak alive at the same time. All it takes is one loss to bring a streak down—that’s what makes them so impressive, but also so easily defeated.