For the Spurs, the loss was one of their most embarrassing. It came on national TV against the team that had bounced them out of the playoffs the year before.

An NBC commentator called David Robinson soft. Gregg Popovich came under heavy criticism locally. Tension filled the locker room.

Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers?

Feb. 28, 1999, against Utah.

After getting drilled 101-87 by the Jazz that afternoon, the Spurs fell to 6-8, prompting Chairman Peter Holt to gauge Doc Rivers' interest in coaching the team.

Holt never needed to call Rivers back.

The Spurs reeled off nine straight wins, went 31-5 the rest of the season, and rolled through the playoffs en route to their first championship.