Suns Aim for Playoff Spot as Season Winds Down

Phoenix Suns look to secure a top-6 seed in the West with a strong finish to the regular season

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Phoenix Suns have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, posting a 32-23 record at the All-Star break. With 27 games left, the Suns are currently in the 7th seed in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games back of the 6th seed. The West has been highly competitive from the 4th to 7th spots, with the Suns, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Rockets all jockeying for position. The Suns have a favorable schedule down the stretch, but will face some tough tests against contenders like the Celtics, Bucks, and Nuggets. Our analysis projects the Suns to finish the season 49-33, which should be enough to secure a playoff spot, though the race for the 6th seed will likely come down to the wire.

Why it matters

The Suns have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season, emerging as a playoff contender after missing the postseason last year. Securing a top-6 seed and avoiding the play-in tournament would be a major accomplishment for the team and could set them up for a deep playoff run. The Western Conference playoff race has been extremely tight, so the Suns' ability to finish strong and hold off teams like the Lakers and Timberwolves will be crucial.

The details

The Suns' remaining schedule features a mix of winnable games against sub-.500 teams like the Kings, Magic, and Hornets, as well as tough matchups against contenders like the Celtics, Bucks, and Nuggets. Key factors will be the health of the Suns' roster, particularly the return of Jalen Green from injury, as well as the team's ability to avoid extended losing streaks - they haven't lost more than 2 in a row all season. The Suns' strong home record (18-10) and success against sub-.500 teams (19-6) should give them an advantage down the stretch.

  • The Suns will be without Dillon Brooks for their first game back from the All-Star break due to a one-game suspension.
  • The Suns have a tough stretch of games from February 24 to February 26, facing the Celtics, Lakers, and Bucks.
  • The Suns have a 6-game road trip in early March that includes games against the Bucks, Celtics, and Timberwolves.
  • The Suns have a favorable end-of-March schedule, with games against the Bucks, Raptors, and Jazz.
  • The Suns' final stretch in April includes key games against the Rockets and Lakers that could impact playoff positioning.

The players

Jalen Green

A young guard for the Suns who has only played in 7 games this season due to injury, but is expected to return and provide a boost to the team's playoff push.

Jordan Ott

The head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who has guided the team to a surprising season so far.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This season has proven the Suns can be a playoff contender, but securing a top-6 seed and avoiding the play-in tournament will require the team to maintain its strong play and hold off challenges from other Western Conference teams down the stretch.