Golden State Warriors Head-To-Head Record Against Every NBA Team: They Have A Negative Record Against Half The League

For the last near-decade, when you think of success in the NBA, the Warriors are one of those teams that comes to mind. If you look at history, the Warriors have struggled with a fair amount of teams and are not as dominant as you might have thought. With that said, the Warriors were a different breed in the playoffs.

There are seven teams that the Warriors have never played in the playoffs, while 17 teams the Warriors own a winning record against. That leaves just five teams that the Warriors have not held a competitive edge in the playoffs. Even for a large number of teams that won a regular-season mark against Golden State, it’s the Warriors that won at the right time in the postseason.

Here are the Warriors’ season and playoffs head to head against every team.

Atlanta Hawks 150-146 (Regular Season), 12-7 (NBA Playoffs)

This has been a competitive series dating back to 1950. At one point, the Hawks rattled off 12 straight victories during the 60s. This has been such a competitive back and forth that it wasn’t until the team’s five-year dynasty run that the Warriors had their best winning streak against Atlanta. That featured a nine-game winning streak from 2015 to 2019.

The Warriors and Hawks have not met in the playoffs since 1968. All three times were in the Division Finals. The first seven games were in 1964. The next two times were in 1967 and 1968, where the Warriors won the series in six games both times.

Boston Celtics 138-208 (Regular Season), 7-16 (NBA Playoffs)

The Celtics have nearly won 100 more times than the Warriors. For now, the mark is 80 games. It didn’t always use to be that way. The two teams had a 22-22 record with each other up to 1952, but then for every one game the Warriors won, the Celtics would win two more. Then, the team would rattle off 10 and 13 straight wins during the Bill Russell years to break it open.

The two teams have met in the playoffs four times and the Celtics have won each series. That includes the Division Finals in 1958, 1960, and 1962. The two teams met in the NBA Finals in 1964, but the Celtics won the series in five games.

Brooklyn Nets 56-39 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

The Nets held a winning edge on the Warriors once in their history. That was after the first game when the Nets won their first-ever meeting. Since then, the Nets have been playing catch up. During the championship years, the Warriors won eight straight, which remains the longest winning streak against the team.

The two teams have never met in the playoffs. When the Nets joined the NBA, they were in the Eastern Conference. The two teams would need to meet in the NBA Finals these days. Given the talent on both sides, we could see that this year.

Charlotte Hornets 32-32 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

Of all the teams to play the Warriors hard, one might not have expected to see the Hornets here. The longest winning streak for either team is six games. This was a tied series in 2017 and has remained a tied series since. Neither team can find a competitive advantage over the other.

That begs the question of what happened if these two teams met in the NBA Finals. Would these series go seven games based on history? We may not ever get to see it given that the Hornets have never made the NBA Finals. If they did, history states the Warriors would be the most entertaining and competitive opponent.

Chicago Bulls 78-84 (Regular Season), 4-3 (NBA Playoffs)

From 1966 to 1981, the Bulls played catch up to the Warriors. It wasn’t until 1981 that the team tied the series edge. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Bulls started to pull away from the Warriors, which was right around the time Michael Jordan came to town. With Jordan leading the way, the Bulls led the series by 19 games after 1998. With that said, the Warriors are climbing back, having won the last 10 matchups.

In the playoffs, the two teams met once in the 1975 Western Conference Finals. The Bulls held a 3-2 series lead over the Warriors but lost Game 6 by a score of 86-72 and then Game 7 83-79. Had that happened, the Bulls wouldn’t have had to wait so long for Jordan to make the NBA Finals.

Cleveland Cavaliers 66-52 (Regular Season), 15-7 (NBA Playoffs)

This was a competitive series with each other up to when LeBron James was drafted. The team was trailing the Cavaliers in wins in 2003 and didn’t tie the series until 2011. Both times that LeBron left, the Warriors were able to go on win streaks of eight and 10 to break the season record open.

In the playoffs, the two teams own a special chapter of NBA history. The two teams met in the NBA Finals four straight years from 2015 to 2018. The Warriors won the series, but the Cavaliers held the most memorable moment by coming back from a 3-1 deficit in 2016 to claim their first championship in team history.

Dallas Mavericks 80-89 (Regular Season), 4-2 (NBA Playoffs)

The Mavericks once held a strong advantage by winning eight straight games two different times. However, the 80s and 90s saw the Warriors win 14 straight to tie the series at 32-32 in 1994. From 1999 to 2004, the Mavericks won 20 straight games against the Warriors, which remains one of the most impressive winning streaks against one team. It is why the Mavericks remain leaders despite a 10-game winning streak by the Warriors in the 2010s.

The two teams have met in the playoffs once and that was in 2007. It’s a time that Mavericks fans remember today despite it being 15 years later. The No. 1 seed Mavericks were ousted by the No. 8 seed Warriors in six games. It remains one of the best underdog stories in playoff history.

Denver Nuggets 85-100 (Regular Season), 4-2 (NBA Playoffs)

The only time the Warriors have led the series was in 1978. Since then, the Nuggets have held the advantage. The Nuggets never went on long winning streaks. The team was efficient at winning two or three games every time the Warriors won once.

In the playoffs, the two teams met once. That was the 2013 first round and the Warriors won the game in six games. Given how this last week of the season goes down, the Warriors and Nuggets could meet in the first round again this year.

Detroit Pistons 159-146 (Regular Season), 10-4 (NBA Playoffs)

When the series began in 1948, the Pistons won the first eight games. Given that the Warriors and Pistons are one of the first NBA franchises, this record goes back far. The two teams were tied 78-78 in 1968. Since then, the Warriors own a 10-game and a nine-game winning streak to help the team get over the hump.

In the playoffs, the two teams have not met since 1977. In 1976 and 1977, the Warriors won both times to eliminate Detroit. The grandest stage came in 1956 when the two teams met in the NBA Finals. The Warriors won the championship in five games.

Houston Rockets 100-126 (Regular Season), 16-7 (NBA Playoffs)

The series was deadlocked at 62 each in 1994. It was that time that Hakeem Olajuwon led an 11-game winning streak to give Houston their first series lead. The Rockets then led this series by as many as 23 games in 2008. The Warriors have an eight-game winning streak in the 2010s and have won the last six games, but it remains a large lead in Houston.

However, the Warriors have ended the hopes of title chances post-Olajuwon multiple times. In 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, the Warriors have eliminated James Harden and the Warriors. The hardest one to swallow was in 2018 when the Rockets led 3-2 in the Conference Finals before Kevin Durant and Steph Curry led the team over Houston in seven games.

Indiana Pacers 46-50 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

In 1998, the two teams each won 25 games against each other. The series remained tied in 2002 before the Pacers rattled off mini-win streaks to open the 2010s with a four-game advantage. The Warriors haven’t won more than four straight against Indiana since 1977.

The two teams have never met in the playoffs. The Pacers are in the Eastern Conference, which means the two teams would need to meet in the NBA Finals. That appears to not be something that is happening anytime soon.

Los Angeles Clippers 135-93 (Regular Season), 7-6 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors won the first 10 of 12 games and have never looked back. The Warriors own three separate 10-game winning streaks against the Warriors, with their largest stretching as far as 12 games. The Clippers have never led in this series. Their only shot at hope was when the series was tied 1-1 after two games.

The playoffs have been a different story. The first time the two teams met was in 2014. The Clippers defeated the Warriors in seven games to make the second round. Then in 2019, the Warriors made their last Finals run at the expense of Los Angeles in the first round. The lower seeded Clippers put up a fight to stretch the series to six games.

Los Angeles Lakers 171-258 (Regular Season), 11-24 (NBA Playoffs)

When you look back in history, you are talking about some famous talent going through both cities. From Wilt Chamberlain playing on both sides to Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. From 2008 to 2011, Bryant led the best stretch of success for Los Angeles by defeating the Warriors 11 straight times.

The two teams have met in the playoffs several times. Some of their main highlights come from the 1973 Western Conference Finals, where the Lakers won in five games. In 1977, 1987, and 1991, the two teams met in the second round each time and the Lakers won each series. The last time the Warriors beat the Lakers in the playoffs was in 1967.

Memphis Grizzlies 51-48 (Regular Season), 4-2 (NBA Playoffs)

The series was tied 32-32 in 2012. For the past 10 years, the two teams have kept this a tight contest even when the Grizzlies were not playing their best basketball. The Grizzlies were able to tie the series back at this time with an 11-game winning streak. The series remained tied 40-40 in 2017 and has seen Golden State with the longest winning streak with five to hold the advantage.

The Warriors eliminated the Grizzlies in the second round of the playoffs in 2015. The Warriors were in pursuit of their first NBA Finals appearance with Steph Curry. It came at the cost of Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol, who were trying to make it back to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2013.

Miami Heat 35-32 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors won the first eight games of the series when the two teams began playing in 1988. Over time, the Heat tied the series at 21-21 in 2008. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the Heat, it helped the team win six straight, but Golden State fired back a mini-run to retie the series in 2017. The Warriors have won six of the last 10 games.

The two teams never met in the playoffs. The Heat is in the Eastern Conference, so it would mean the two teams would need to meet in the NBA Finals. James met the Warriors plenty of times when he was with Cleveland. It is too bad we never saw the big three from each unit in Miami and Golden State square off one time.

Milwaukee Bucks 57-85 (Regular Season), 6-10 (NBA Playoffs)

The Bucks won 22 of the first 30 games played against each other. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading the way, the lead was safe. Even after Jabbar left, the lead remained safe. The Warriors have a very tough time beating Milwaukee. In the 80s, the Bucks rattled off 12 straight wins.

There was a three-year stretch where both teams played in the playoffs from 1971 to 1973. In 1971 and 1972, the Warriors ousted the Bucks in the second round of the playoffs. In 1973, the Warriors defeated the Bucks in the second round in six games. Now, we look to the 2022 playoffs to see if this could be a Finals matchup.

Minnesota Timberwolves 72-51 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors won 20 of the first 30 matchups, but the Timberwolves managed to fight back and tie this series even in 2004 at 29-29. Since then, the Warriors have used two separate seven-game winning streaks to take the overall lead with some wins sprinkled in here and there.

Despite the two teams playing in the same conference, the two teams have never met in the playoffs. That could be something that happens this season given how the seeding ends. The Timberwolves are very close to taking the six seed while the Warriors are sitting with the three seed.

New Orleans Pelicans 42-24 (Regular Season), 8-1 (NBA Playoffs)

The series began in 2002 and has remained competitive for 20 years. Neither team has been able to pull away as the series was tied 18-18 in 2013. From 2012 to 2015, the Warriors pulled away with 10 straight wins. To keep pace, the Warriors have won eight of the last 12 games.

The Warriors defeated the Pelicans two different times on route to winning championships. In 2015, the Warriors won in the first round and then won in the second round in 2018. All in all, New Orleans has won once against Golden State and that was with Anthony Davis on the team.

New York Knicks 183-163 (Regular Season), 2-0 (NBA Playoffs)

Up to 1960, the Knicks held the competitive advantage before the Warriors tied the series 60-60. After that, the Warriors have held the advantage ever since. The Warriors have won nine straight games against the Knicks in three different eras. That includes 10 straight from 2015 to 2019.

The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was in 1947. The Warriors won both games in the best of three series. If the two teams ever meet again, it will need to be the NBA Finals. With the Knicks constantly in a flux, who knows when that will ever happen?

Oklahoma City Thunder 118-141 (Regular Season), 9-8 (NBA Playoffs)

The series was tied 48-48 in 1983 and 64-64 in 1988. Since then, the Thunder franchise took control and never looked back. The best stretch of success came in the 90s when Gary Payton led the SuperSonics to 12 straight wins over Golden State. Then from 1999 to 2003, the SuperSonics won 14 straight games. Since Russell Westbrook left, the Warriors have won six straight.

The first time the two teams met in the playoffs was in 1975 when the Warriors won in six games in the semifinals. It wasn’t until 1992 that the two teams met in the first round where Seattle won. The most exciting series came in 2016 when Kevin Durant and Westbrook had the Thunder in position to knock off the 73-win Warriors with a 3-1 series lead. However, the Thunder collapsed, and the Warriors made the NBA Finals, which led to Durant leaving OKC to join Golden State.

Orlando Magic 32-34 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

Would you have ever thought the Magic would own this series? In 1998, the series was tied with 10 wins each. Since then, the Magic have consistently fended off the Warriors from taking the series lead. The Warriors nearly took the lead after winning 11 straight up to 2018, but the Magic still held a 30-29 advantage.

The Magic have always been pesky with Golden State, which includes a win against the team this season. As for the playoffs, the two teams have never met. To make the NBA Finals to make that happen, the Magic have a lot of work to do.

Philadelphia 76ers 154-169 (Regular Season), 13-21 (NBA Playoffs)

The series was tied 31-31 in 1956 and has been in the firm grasp of the 76ers since then. That includes the 76ers leading by as many as 30 games in 1973. The longest winning streak was 10 games, done by the Warriors during their dynasty years. Even so, the team has been unable to hold this lead in over 60 years.

The two teams met in the playoffs in 1950, 1951, and 1952 where the Nationals came out on top each time. After the Warriors won a series in 1956, the Nationals won in 1957. They met again in 1958, where the Warriors came out on top, as well as in 1960 and 1962. The last meeting came in the 1967 NBA Finals, where the 76ers won the championship to end the reign of the Celtics’ winning streak.

Phoenix Suns 111-144 (Regular Season), 4-11 (NBA Playoffs)

This series was tied 45-45 in 1984 and has to seen Phoenix take off ever since. The Suns ended the 80s up to 1991 by winning nine straight. That also included an eight-game winning streak in the mid-90s. The Steve Nash years featured a seven-game winning streak, but the Warriors own the longest winning streak. When the Suns were really bad, the Warriors mastered an 18-game winning streak from 2015 to 2019.

The two teams have met in the playoffs three times with the Suns winning each series. The Suns defeated Golden State in the Conference Finals in 1976. Then, the Suns ousted the Warriors in the second round in 1989 and the first round in 1994. Could we see a Conference Finals rematch this season?

Portland Trail Blazers 109-129 (Regular Season), 12-1 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors held the series edge up to 1982 before Portland tied it at 34-34. The series remained tied in 1984 and then the Trail Blazers began to hold the advantage. Clyde Drexler led a nine-game winning streak in the early 90s, while the team went on another nine-game winning streak in the later 90s up to 2001. The Warriors never recovered and have been fended off ever since.

The playoffs are a different story where Golden State was known for breaking hearts. In 2016, 2017, and 2019, the Warriors eliminated Portland. The most exciting series came in 2019 when Golden State eliminated the Trail Blazers in four games in the Western Conference Finals.

Sacramento Kings 212-192 (Regular Season), 0-0 (NBA Playoffs)

This series stretches back to the 1948-1949 season, yet they have never met in the playoffs. More on that in a minute, but this series featured multiple times before each team was deadlocked at 65-65 in 1964. That remained the same story up to 1978 when it was 108-108. Then, it was like that one more time until it was 185-185 in 2013. Since then, the Warriors used a 13-game winning streak during the dynasty years to break it open.

Let’s talk about how this is one of the two oldest teams in the league and there has never been a playoffs matchup. The Kings are in the Western Conference too. Then again, not making the playoffs the last 16 years like the Kings doesn’t help either.

San Antonio Spurs 64-114 (Regular Season), 13-6 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors once led the series in 1978, but it was for a brief moment. Since that year, the Spurs have maintained control. From 1998 to 2002, the Spurs won 16 straight games. From 2008 to 2013, the Spurs won another 16 straight. Needless to say, Tim Duncan was a nightmare to play against for the Warriors.

Like other teams on this list, the Warriors took advantage of their playoff opportunities. The Spurs did oust the Warriors in the 2013 playoffs on route to making the NBA Finals, but the Warriors have won three of the four meetings. That includes the first round in 1991 and 2018, as well as the Conference Finals in 2017 when Kawhi Leonard’s injury negated any chance by San Antonio.

Toronto Raptors 30-20 (Regular Season), 2-4 (NBA Playoffs)

The two teams began playing in 1995. The series remained competitive up to 2008 when the record was 13-13. From 2015 to 2018, the Warriors won eight straight, which helped the team pull away. With that said, Toronto has won five of the last seven meetings.

The playoffs featured the two teams in the NBA Finals in 2019. It was one of the exciting Finals as Kawhi Leonard won Finals MVP to lead Toronto to their first championship. The Finals also featured career altering injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson and it ended the chances of the Warriors completing the three-peat.

Utah Jazz 81-114 (Regular Season), 11-6 (NBA Playoffs)

The Warriors once held the series lead with a 4-3 margin in 1976 and again in 1983, but once the two teams deadlocked at 21-21 that same year, it was over. The Jazz used a 17-game winning streak from 1996 to 2000 to pull away. The Warriors have never won more than seven straight against the Jazz.

The Warriors were built differently in the playoffs, winning three of their four matchups. The Warriors took down the Jazz in the first round in 1987 and 1989. The Jazz then eliminated the Warriors in 2007 after their Cinderella run to make the Conference Finals. The 2017 semifinals saw the Warriors sweep Utah on route to winning the title.

Washington Wizards 114-86 (Regular Season), 4-0 (NBA Playoffs)

When the franchise was based in Chicago, the Warriors took advantage of their young years by winning the first 13 games. It’s one of the few times where we can say the Warriors have controlled this series from start to present. The Zephyrs, Packers, Bullets, or Wizards. No era has found an answer for the Warriors.

The 1975 NBA Finals featured the Bullets and Warriors. Even there, Washington remained powerless. The Warriors won the series in four games to sweep the series. All in all, it’s not a great day when Washington gets tasked with Golden State. 

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