1996-97 record: 40-42 (fourth in Pacific)

Per-game Averages

	Points (rank)	FG% (rank)	Rebounds (rank)	Turnovers (rank)
SUNS	102.8 (3)	.469 (6)	40.1 (19)	14.4 (3)
OPPONENTS	102.2 (25)	.467 (23)	42.8 (23)	15.8 (12)

 

Phoenix opened 1996-97 with 13 straight losses, four shy of the NBA record for a season-opening skid. But the Suns later ran off 11 straight wins, thus becoming the first team in league history to both lose 10 or more straight and win 10 or more straight in one season. Not only were the Suns the first NBA team to make the playoffs after losing their first 10 games, they were the first even to finish above .300.

Longest Losing Streaks to Open an NBA Season

	Streak	Record after streak	Final record	Playoffs
Heat, 1988-89	0-17	15-50 (.231)	15-67 (.183)	No
Clippers, 1994-95	0-16	17-49 (.256)	17-65 (.207)	No
Nuggets, 1949-50	0-15	11-36 (.234)	11-51 (.177)	No
Cavaliers, 1970-71	0-15	15-52 (.224)	15-67 (.183)	No
76ers, 1972-73	0-15	9-58 (.134)	9-73 (.110)	No
Suns, 1996-97	0-13	40-29 (.580)	40-42 (.488)	Yes
Jazz, 1974-75	0-11	23-48 (.324)	23-59 (.280)	No
Rockets, 1982-83	0-10	14-58 (.194)	14-68 (.171)	No