This Week in NBA History (Jan. 6-12): Bucks snap Lakers' NBA-record 33-game win streak in 1972 and more

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There have been countless moments in the 74-year history of the NBA that stand the test of the time; performances and achievements that will never be forgotten.

Throughout the season, we'll take you back in time to relive some of the best moments from the past.

This week in NBA history for the week of January 6-12:

January 9, 1972 - Bucks snap Lakers' 33-game win streak

As the Lakers visited the Bucks in Milwaukee on Jan. 9 1972, they had won 33 straight games. However, the reigning champions - the Milwaukee Bucks - led by the reigning Finals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson ensured that they wouldn't extend that NBA-record streak to 34.

Abdul-Jabbar put up the best stat line of the game with 39 points (18-34 FG), 20 rebounds, and five assists as the Bucks beat the Lakers 120-104. Four other Bucks players finished in double figures including Robertson (17 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds) as they held the famed Lakers' backcourt of Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, who averaged a combined 51.7 points per game that season, to just 38 points (10-36 FG).

For the Lakers, six players finished in double figures with Wilt Chamberlain having 18 points and 18 rebounds.

The Lakers would go on to finish the season with a 69-13 regular-season record. En route to capturing the 1972 title, the Lakers beat the Bucks (4-2) in the Western Conference Finals before defeating the New York Knicks (4-1) in the NBA Finals.

The 1972 title was the sixth in franchise history and the first of the Los Angeles era. The Lakers had lost each of their previous eight Finals appearances, seven of which came against the Boston Celtics.

January 10, 2018 - Lou Williams drops 50 in Clippers win vs. Warriors

In four seasons with Kevin Durant on the roster, the Golden State Warriors lost a total of 73 games - an average of 18.3 games per season. So, each team that hands them a defeat could take a lot of pride in the fact that they were among the select few. 

In 2018, Lou Williams went off for a career-high of 50 points (16-27 FG) to carry the LA Clippers to an upset win over the shorthanded Warriors. He also recorded seven assists while shooting 8-16 from beyond the arc and a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.

Golden State, who was playing without its All-Star backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, was carried by Kevin Durant's 40-point outing. En route to dropping 40, he crossed the 20,000 points landmark.

January 10, 2019 - Revisiting Thunder-Spurs 2OT clash

LaMarcus Aldridge

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs were the two most winningest franchises of the past decade. Both franchises have provided some entertaining contests (regular season and playoffs) especially in Conference Finals of 2012, and 14. 

In 2019, they provided a regular-season double-overtime classic with the Spurs coming out on top 154-147.

The Thunder had a balanced offensive outing with six players scoring in double figures, led by 30 from Paul George and a 24-point, 24-assist, 13-rebound triple-double by 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook. They fought back a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime but eventually came out on the losing side.

On the other hand, the Spurs had seven players in double figures but were single-handedly carried by LaMarcus Aldridge's point tally of 56 points (20-33 FG). DeMar DeRozan had a near triple-double with 16 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds as the Spurs shot a super-efficient 16-of-19 (84.2%) from beyond the arc. 

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