This is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise post-season appearance streaks. This list includes the all-time and the active consecutive playoffs appearance. Aside from the NBA Playoff appearance streaks, this list also includes the NBA Finals appearance streak and the NBA championships win streak.
On March 24, 1971, the Philadelphia 76ers (formerly known as the Syracuse Nationals) set an NBA record of 22 consecutive playoff appearances in the time between the 1950 NBA playoffs and the 1971 NBA playoffs. The 76ers won two NBA championships during their streak. In 2019 the San Antonio Spurs tied the NBA record of 22 consecutive playoff appearances. The Spurs' streak started in the 1998 NBA playoffs and ended after missing the 2020 NBA playoffs. The Spurs won five NBA championships during their streak.
The Boston Celtics hold the longest consecutive NBA Finals appearance streak with ten appearances between 1957 and 1966. During the streak, the Celtics won eight consecutive NBA championships—also an NBA record.
Active streaks
NBA Playoffs appearance streaks
This is a list of teams that have active and current consecutive seasons with a playoff appearance.
^Longest streak in team history +2026 Playoff TeamsStreakTeamNBA Playoffsappearance streakNBA championships wonduring streakReference12Boston Celtics2015–20261 (2024)8Denver Nuggets2019–20261 (2023)5Minnesota Timberwolves2022–20264Cleveland Cavaliers2023–20264Los Angeles Lakers2023–20264New York Knicks2023–20261 (2026)3Oklahoma City Thunder2024–20261 (2025)3Orlando Magic2024–20262Detroit Pistons2025–20262Houston Rockets2025–20261Atlanta Hawks20261Philadelphia 76ers20261Phoenix Suns2026—1Portland Trail Blazers20261San Antonio Spurs20261Toronto Raptors2026
NBA Playoffs series win streaks
This is a list of teams that have active and current consecutive seasons with a playoff series win.
List updated through the 2026 playoffs.
^Longest streak in team history ~Tied for longest streak in team history + Consecutive seasons with a series winStreakTeamNBA Playoffsseries win streakNBA championships wonduring streakReference4New York Knicks2023–20261 (2026)3Cleveland Cavaliers2024–20263Minnesota Timberwolves^2024–20263Oklahoma City Thunder2024–20261 (2025)1Detroit Pistons20261Los Angeles Lakers20261Philadelphia 76ers20261San Antonio Spurs2026
All-time streaks
NBA Playoffs appearance streaks Appearance streaks updated through the 2026 NBA playoffs.
^Denotes active streak
StreakTeamNBA Playoffsappearance streakNBA championships wonduring streakReference22Philadelphia 76ers1950–19631964–19712 (1955, 1967)22San Antonio Spurs1998–20195 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)21Portland Trail Blazers1983–200320Utah Jazz1984–200319Boston Celtics1951–1969 (1957, 1959–1966, 1968, 1969)17Los Angeles Lakers1977–19935 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)16Minneapolis LakersLos Angeles Lakers1959–19601961–19741 (1972)14Fort Wayne PistonsDetroit Pistons1950–19571958–196314Boston Celtics1980–19933 (1981, 1984, 1986)14Chicago Bulls1985–19986 (1991–1993, 1996–1998)14New York Knicks1988–200113Phoenix Suns1989–200112Baltimore BulletsCapitol BulletsWashington Bullets1969–197319741975–19801 (1978)12Philadelphia 76ers1976–19871 (1983)12Milwaukee Bucks1980–199112Dallas Mavericks2001–20121 (2011)12Boston Celtics^2015–20261 (2024)11St. Louis HawksAtlanta Hawks1963–19681969–197310Los Angeles Lakers1995–20043 (2000, 2001, 2002)10Denver Nuggets2004–201310Atlanta Hawks2008–2017
Longest post-season streaks in team history
Updated through 2026 NBA playoffs. ^Denotes active streak
Team Longest streak withpost-season appearances SeasonsReference Philadelphia 76ers 1950–1971 22 San Antonio Spurs 1998–2019 22 Portland Trail Blazers 1983–2003 21 Utah Jazz 1984–2003 20 Boston Celtics 1951–1969 19 Los Angeles Lakers 1977–1993 17 Detroit Pistons 1950–1963 14 Chicago Bulls 1985–1998 14 New York Knicks 1988–2001 14 Phoenix Suns 1989–2001 13 Washington Wizards 1969–1980 12 Milwaukee Bucks 1980–1991 12 Dallas Mavericks 2001–2012 12 Atlanta Hawks 1963–1973 11 Denver Nuggets 2004–2013 10 Indiana Pacers 1998–2006 9 Oklahoma City Thunder 1991–1998 8 Minnesota Timberwolves 1997–2004 8 Sacramento Kings 1999–2006 8 Houston Rockets 2013–2020 8 Memphis Grizzlies 2011–2017 7 Golden State Warriors 2013–2019 7 Toronto Raptors 2014–2020 7 Brooklyn Nets 2002–2007 6 Orlando Magic 2007–2012 6 Los Angeles Clippers 2012–2017 6 Miami Heat 1996–20012009–20142020–2025 6 Cleveland Cavaliers 1992–19962006–2010 5 Charlotte Hornets 2000–2002 3 New Orleans Pelicans 2003–20042008–2009 2
Longest post-season series win streaks in team history
Updated through 2026 NBA playoffs. ^Denotes active streak
Team Year streak started Year streak ended Seasons Boston Celtics 28 Chicago Bulls 11 Los Angeles Lakers 10 New York Knicks 9 Cleveland Cavaliers 9 San Antonio Spurs 8Golden State Warriors active 8 Philadelphia 76ers 7 Detroit Pistons 7 Milwaukee Bucks 5 Houston Rockets 5 Utah Jazz 5 Miami Heat 5 Oklahoma City Thunder 5 Toronto Raptors 5 Atlanta Hawks 4 Phoenix Suns 4 Sacramento Kings 4 Portland Trail Blazers 3 Dallas Mavericks 3 Brooklyn Nets 3 Orlando Magic 3 Indiana Pacers 3 Denver Nuggets 3 Washington Wizards 3Minnesota Timberwolves active 3 Charlotte Hornets 2 Los Angeles Clippers 2 Memphis Grizzlies 1 New Orleans Pelicans 1
Missed playoffs in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1979. Missed playoffs from 2011 to 2014. Missed playoffs in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2026. Missed playoffs in 2015. Missed playoffs in 1962. During the second streak, the Wizards missed the playoffs in 2016. During the first streak, the Clippers missed the playoffs from 2007 to 2011.
NBA Conference Finals appearance streaks Appearance streaks up to the 2026 NBA playoffs. Includes both the NBA conference finals, introduced in 1971, and its predecessor division finals.
^Denotes active streak
StreakTeamNBA Conference Finalsappearance streakConference titles wonduring streakReference13Boston Celtics1957–196912 (1957–1966, 1968, 1969)8Los Angeles Lakers1982–19897 (1982–1985, 1987–1989) 7Minneapolis Lakers1949–19555 (1949, 1950, 1952–1954)6St. Louis Hawks1956–19614 (1957, 1958, 1960, 1961)6Los Angeles Lakers1968–19735 (1968–1970, 1972, 1973)6New York Knicks1969–19743 (1970, 1972, 1973)6Detroit Pistons2003–20082 (2004, 2005)5New York Knicks1949–19533 (1951–1953)5Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers1959–19633 (1959, 1962, 1963)5Boston Celtics1972–19762 (1974, 1976)5Boston Celtics1984–19884 (1984–1986)5Detroit Pistons1987–19913 (1988–1990)5Chicago Bulls1989–19933 (1991–1993)5Golden State Warriors 2015–20195 (2015–2019) 4Syracuse Nationals 1954–19572 (1954, 1955)4Philadelphia 76ers 1965–19681 (1967)4Philadelphia 76ers 1980–19833 (1980, 1982, 1983)4Miami Heat 2011–20144 (2011–2014) 4Cleveland Cavaliers 2015–20184 (2015–2018)
NBA Finals appearance streaks Appearance streaks updated through 2025 NBA playoffs.
^Denotes active streak StreakTeamNBA Finalsappearance streakNBA championships wonduring streakReference10Boston Celtics1957–19669 (1957, 1959–1966)5Golden State Warriors 2015–20193 (2015, 2017, 2018)4Los Angeles Lakers1982–19852 (1982, 1985)4Boston Celtics1984–19872 (1984, 1986)4Miami Heat 2011–20142 (2012, 2013)4Cleveland Cavaliers 2015–20181 (2016)3New York Knicks1951–19533Minneapolis Lakers1952–19543 (1952–1954)3Los Angeles Lakers1968–19703Los Angeles Lakers1987–19892 (1987, 1988)3Detroit Pistons1988–19902 (1989, 1990)3Chicago Bulls1991–19933 (1991–1993)3Chicago Bulls1996–19983 (1996–1998)3Los Angeles Lakers2000–20023 (2000–2002)3Los Angeles Lakers2008–20102 (2009, 2010)2Philadelphia Warriors1947–19481 (1947)2Minneapolis Lakers1949–19502 (1949, 1950)2Syracuse Nationals1954–19551 (1955)2Fort Wayne Pistons1955–19562St. Louis Hawks1957–19581 (1958)2St. Louis Hawks1960–19612Los Angeles Lakers1962–19632 Los Angeles Lakers1965–19662 Boston Celtics1968–19692 (1968, 1969)2 Los Angeles Lakers1972–19731 (1972)2 New York Knicks1972–19731 (1973)2 Washington Bullets1978–19791 (1978)2 Seattle SuperSonics1978–19791 (1979)2 Philadelphia 76ers1982–19831 (1983)2 Houston Rockets1994–19952 (1994, 1995)2 Utah Jazz1997–19982New Jersey Nets2002–20032Detroit Pistons2004–20051 (2004)2San Antonio Spurs 2013–20141 (2014)
NBA championships win streaks Championship streaks up to and including the 2025 NBA playoffs
StreakTeamNBA championshipswin streakReference8Boston Celtics1959–19663Minneapolis Lakers1952–19543Chicago Bulls1991–19933Chicago Bulls1996–19983Los Angeles Lakers2000–20022Minneapolis Lakers1949–19502Boston Celtics1968–19692Los Angeles Lakers1987–19882Detroit Pistons1989–19902Houston Rockets1994–19952Los Angeles Lakers2009–20102Miami Heat 2012–20132Golden State Warriors 2017–2018
See also List of NBA franchise postseason droughts List of NFL franchise post-season streaks List of MLB franchise postseason streaks List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks
References Specific
General