The Golden State Warriors clinched a playoff spot Saturday night with the Rockets' loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It is the earliest clinch of a playoff spot in NBA history, beating the 1986 Boston Celtics by one day. The Warriors, at 52-5 entering their game Saturday at the Thunder, were also the fastest team to 50 wins, and are on pace to break the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls for the best regular-season record in NBA history.
Clinching a playoff spot itself is nothing really noteworthy; obviously Golden State was a lock for the playoffs since its historic start this season. But to do it faster than anyone else, to accomplish a playoff lock in February? That's just unbelievable, even in a season when all of the Warriors' records, stats and highlights seem beyond the realm of rational comprehension.
Amazingly, their magic number for the No. 1 seed in the West is still 22 based on how good the Spurs (50-9) have been this season. Still, for now, it's another moment where Golden State showed just how historic this season has been.
