Ever since the San Antonio Spurs selected Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, they've won no less than 50 games in each season. Even in the lockout shortened 2011-12 season the Spurs managed to rack up 50 wins.
That remarkable streak, which spanned 18 consecutive seasons, came to an end last night in Los Angeles as the Spurs suffered a 113-110 loss to the Clippers. Having played without All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard for most of the season it's incredible the Spurs were even in a position to win 50 games this year.
More importantly, the Spurs are still on track to make it to the playoffs for the 21st consecutive season, which would be tied with the Portland Trail Blazers (1983-2003) for second most all-time. The Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (from 1950–1971) made 22 straight playoff appearances.
After last night's loss Manu Ginobili said the team "doesn't give a damn" about how many wins they end up with in the regular season, so long as they make the post-season and have a chance to compete for an NBA championship.
“The most ridiculous thing. I don’t care at all. We want to make it to the playoffs,” Ginobili told reporters after the game, according to KSAT. “If we won 50, 49, 81, nobody gives a damn. The important thing is to play well, get into a good position to go into the playoffs and try to win a championship.”
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Spurs are currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 45-33 record, but a lot can change over the next week. San Antonio is tied with the fourth place Utah Jazz but they're only 1.5 games up on the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in the eighth and final playoff spot.