The Wizards’ victory in San Antonio ends one of the NBA’s strangest losing streaks, which lasted 8,451 days

A Monday night game in late January between the Washington Wizards and the San Antonio Spurs isn’t exactly a marquee matchup. Still, there was more at stake in this competition than most people probably realised. With their 127-106 win, the Wizards ended one of the NBA’s strangest losing streaks.

Prior to that game, the Wizards hadn’t won since December 11, 1999 in San Antonio, when they earned a 99-89 win thanks to 31 points, four rebounds and five assists from Mitch Richmond, who outplayed a youngster Tim Duncan (23 points and 13 rebounds).

Even considering that Eastern Conference teams only play away teams from Western Conference once a season, it was still a 22-game losing streak that lasted 8,451 days. Four players on the Wizards roster and seven players on the Spurs roster in this game weren’t even born when the Wizards last won in San Antonio.

While ending their woes in San Antonio was a cool historical note, the more important story for the Wizards is that they have now won six straight games, the longest active winning streak in the league. As a result, they are ninth in the Eastern Conference, 24-26, just 3.5 games off a top-six finish. At least they should be in the mix the rest of the way for a play-in spot.

Deni Avdija came off the bench with a career-best 25 points and led the scoring in that game, while Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 38 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists in strong all-around performances. Next up for the Wizards are the humble Detroit Pistons, who have the worst record in the East. If they can win that game, they will earn their first seven-game winning streak since 2017 and set for the third-longest streak in franchise history.