No NBA team has played more than four games in the first seven days of the 2019/20 regular season, but only four clubs didn’t lose during that stretch. The Sixers, Nuggets, Spurs, and Timberwolves are all 3-0.
It’s no surprise that Philadelphia and Denver are off to strong starts. Both teams are expected to finish near the top of their respective conferences this season — I had them as the No. 1 seeds in my preseason predictions.
However, the early three-game winning streaks from San Antonio and Minnesota are a little more unexpected. Neither team has had a brutal schedule to start the season, with the Spurs picking up home wins vs. the Knicks, Wizards, and Trail Blazers, while the Wolves won in Brooklyn, in Charlotte, and at home against the Heat.
Still, their hot starts have been promising. Karl-Anthony Towns is putting up MVP-caliber numbers in the early going for the Wolves (32.0 PPG, 13.3 RPG). The Spurs have had a more balanced attack, led by DeMar DeRozan (22.0 PPG) and LaMarcus Aldridge (21.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG) and complemented by players like now-healthy guard Dejounte Murray (14.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.0 APG).
The four undefeated teams have the following games on tap as they look to extend their winning streaks to start the season:
- Sixers: vs. Min (10/30), @ Por (11/2), @ Phx (11/4), @ Utah (11/6), @ Den (11/8)
- Nuggets: vs. Dal (10/29), @ NO (10/31), @ Orl (11/2), vs. Mia (11/5), vs. Phi (11/8)
- Spurs: @ LAC (10/31), @ GSW (11/1), vs. LAL (11/3), @ Atl (11/5), vs. OKC (11/7)
- Timberwolves: @ Phi (10/30), @ Wash (11/2), vs. Mil (11/4), @ Mem (11/6), vs. GSW (11/8)
The Spurs have a brutal three-game stretch on tap beginning on Thursday, though at least one of the Sixers or Wolves will have lost a game by that point, as those two teams are set to face one another on Wednesday. Even if the 76ers beat Minnesota, they have a tough Western road trip up next, with games in Portland, Phoenix, and Utah before they’d get a chance to face Denver. Of course, the Nuggets’ schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk up until that point either, starting tonight vs. Luka Doncic and the Mavs.
What do you think? Which of this season’s undefeated teams will keep its streak going the longest and be the last to lose in 2019/20?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your two cents!
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The hot start for Minnesota is just a fluke.
Philly really the only team listed that is a legit contender. Rest of the undefeated records seem a tad flukey. I’ll go with the Sixers.
you know the Nuggets are kinda really good right?
Denver is arguably better than Philly.
Philly doesn’t have the same depth, their star player isn’t always available, and they play in the weaker conference. I like Philly a lot, but I think you’re crazy to say the Nuggets great record is a fluke. They’re quite good.
Nuggets will almost certainly contend with LAC for top spot in the West. Contender for the championship? Debatable. But certainly a contender for best record in the league.
Well, the nuggets aren’t the right answer…
I picked Minny (I think they beat the Sixers), but I was really surprised to see Denver lose last night.
I like the Spurs to beat the Clippers, but not enough to vote for them. I could see them starting the year 9-1, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they go 10-0. People are really sleeping on them.
Not even close, they lost 117-95. Wolves are a lottery team.
But you’re absolutely right about the Spurs, people are sleeping on them.