Heat and Nuggets lead recent performances following the NBA All-Star break.
The NBA has resumed its activities following the All-Star break, signaling the beginning of a crucial playoff push.
The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder are currently leading their respective conferences. Detroit boasts a record of 40-13, marking the best performance in the NBA as they entered the All-Star break for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Oklahoma City closely trails with a record of 42-14.
Other teams are still competing for favorable positions in the standings. The Cleveland Cavaliers rank fourth in the East, having achieved a 9-1 record in their last 10 games, while the Charlotte Hornets are also climbing the ranks with a similar 9-1 record during that period. The San Antonio Spurs are experiencing a strong performance in the West, now only three games behind the Thunder for the top spot in the conference.
Is it possible for either of these teams to generate a surge after the All-Star break to gain momentum as they approach the postseason?
Historical data indicates that a robust post-All-Star performance can significantly impact outcomes. With this in mind, here’s a review of the five best records following the break since the 2000-01 season.
Miami Heat, 2013
Record before/after All-Star break: 36-14/30-2
Miami was already on a winning streak, having secured seven consecutive victories leading into the 2012-13 break. They emerged from the break on fire, achieving 20 consecutive wins to extend their streak to 27, which stands as the second-longest single-season winning streak in NBA history.
The Heat also recorded the highest win percentage after an All-Star break in NBA history, culminating in a 66-16 record, which secured them first place in the East and set a franchise record for most wins in a single season.
Miami’s impressive regular season performance translated into the playoffs, where they claimed their second consecutive championship, spearheaded by the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. James earned his second straight MVP award, falling just one vote short of a unanimous selection.
Denver Nuggets, 2005
Record before/after All-Star break: 24-29/25-4
Denver hosted the All-Star Weekend in 2005, but the team was not in optimal form as they approached the event.
The Nuggets were positioned 10th in the Western Conference with a 24-29 record. Head coach Jeff Bzdelik was dismissed after a 13-15 start, and interim coach Michael Cooper managed a 4-10 record before Denver appointed George Karl as the full-time head coach on January 28, 2005.
Karl turned the team around after the break, guiding the Nuggets to nine consecutive victories. They concluded the season with a 49-33 record, securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Carmelo Anthony played a pivotal role during this stretch, finishing with the second-highest points per game average in the league after the All-Star break that season.
Denver faced the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round and was eliminated in a five-game series.
Denver Nuggets, 2013
Record before/after All-Star break: 33-21/24-4
Eight years after the Nuggets’ notable second-half performance in 2005, they nearly achieved a similar feat.
From February 23 to March 23, Denver recorded a franchise-best 15 consecutive wins. Ironically, Karl was the coach for both of the Nuggets’ post-break surges.
They finished with a record of 57-25 (.695), the best in NBA history for a team without an All-Star player that season. However, Denver was eliminated in six games in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. The franchise parted ways with Karl after the season, despite him being named Coach of the Year.
Chicago Bulls, 2011
Record before/after All-Star break: 38-16/24-4
Derrick Rose’s MVP-winning season featured a strong conclusion. Chicago elevated its performance to move from third in the East to first, finishing with a 62-20 record.
The Bulls’ defense and Rose were significant contributors to this success. Rose averaged 25.3 points per game after the All-Star break, the highest by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan. Consequently, Chicago allowed an average of 89.2 points per game after the break, the fewest by any NBA team post-All-Star since the 2007-08 Spurs.
This momentum propelled them to the Eastern Conference finals, where the Heat defeated the Bulls in five games. This conference finals appearance remains Chicago’s only one since the conclusion of the Jordan era.
Houston Rockets, 2018
Record before/after All-Star break: 44-13/21-4
Win percentage: .840
Houston had been performing well throughout the season, and this continued to escalate in the second half.
The Rockets won 18 of their next 19 games, finishing with a 65-17 record and a .793 win percentage, a franchise record. This success coincided with an MVP season for James Harden, who averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds.
Houston advanced to the Western Conference finals but was defeated in seven games by the Warriors, notably missing 27 consecutive 3-pointers in Game 7.
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
