The last time the San Antonio Spurs didn’t win 50 games in a season, only one Bush had been president, phones were only used to make calls and “Ask Jeeves” was something people still used…kind of.
The year was 1999 and the Spurs finished with only 37 regular-season wins …out of a possible 50 because an NBA lockout cut 32 games from the schedule.
Coincidentally, the 1998-99 season was Tim Duncan’s first in the league. And even though the Spurs didn’t hit 50 that year—they were on a 61-win pace and beat the New York Knicks in five games for that year’s title—they went on to win 50 or more year after year after year.
Until this year, as the Los Angeles Clippers ended San Antonio’s chance of hitting 50 for a 19th consecutive season with a 113-110 win over the Spurs at Staples Center on Tuesday. To add insult to injury, the Spurs lost in the same building to the Lakers on Wednesday 122-112.
Still, it could be worse, because at 45-34 San Antonio is tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 6th place in the Western Conference and is almost guaranteed a spot in the postseason. So the team’s other incredible active streak—20 straight trips to the playoffs—remains alive for now.
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