Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs rivalry

Spurs–Suns rivalry

San Antonio Spurs Phoenix Suns
First meeting	October 27, 1976
Latest meeting	January 14, 2017 (Mexico City Arena)
Next meeting	TBD
Statistics
Meetings total	215
All-time series	108–97 (SAS)
Regular season series	92–76 (SAS)
Postseason results	25–22 (SAS)
Longest win streak	SAS: W9 PHX: W5
Current win streak	PHX W1
Post-season history
1992 Western Conference First Round: Suns won, 3–0 1993 Western Conference Semifinals: Suns won, 4–2 1996 Western Conference First Round: Spurs won, 3–1 1998 Western Conference First Round: Spurs won, 3–1 2000 Western Conference First Round: Suns won, 3–1 2003 Western Conference First Round: Spurs won, 4–2 2005 Western Conference Finals: Spurs won, 4–1 2007 Western Conference Semifinals: Spurs won, 4–2 2008 Western Conference First Round: Spurs won, 4–1 2010 Western Conference Semifinals: Suns won, 4–0

The Spurs–Suns rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns. It began in the 1990s, when the Spurs were led by "The Admiral", David Robinson, and the Phoenix Suns were propelled by a number of players, including Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, and Tom Chambers. The rivalry continued into the next decade with Tim Duncan leading the Spurs, and with Steve Nash leading the Suns. The rivalry has also allegedly prevented Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from coaching the USA Basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Spurs and Suns first met in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs. The Suns established a record of 53-29 garnering fourth seed in the Western Conference, while the Spurs, owning a 47-35 record, clinched the fifth seed. However, with their captain, David Robinson, injured the Spurs were shorthanded and the Suns swept this series in three games.

The two teams would meet again the next year in the 1993 Western Conference Semifinals. The Suns had a new look having acquired former Celtic Danny Ainge. They also traded Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry to the Philadelphia 76ers for Charles Barkley, who was the season's Most Valuable Player. The Suns also compiled a league-best 62-20 record and clinched both the Pacific Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs finished the regular season with a 49-33 record and the fifth seed. The Suns managed to reach the Conference Semifinals by beating the Los Angeles Lakers in a five-game series after having lost the first two games. The Spurs ousted the defending Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers. The semifinal series lasted six games with the Suns prevailing over the Spurs again when Barkley hit a game-winner in Game 6. The Suns would proceed to win the Western Conference championship and face the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.