Streaking Spurs Face Suns in Playoff Positioning Battle

San Antonio looks to extend win streak as Phoenix aims to improve playoff standing

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns will face off on Thursday in Austin, Texas, with differing goals in mind. The Spurs, who have won six straight games, are looking to secure a Western Conference title, while the Suns are focused on improving their playoff positioning. The Spurs are led by Victor Wembanyama and have thrived under first-year head coach Mitch Johnson, while the Suns have exceeded preseason expectations despite dealing with key injuries to players like Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Jalen Green.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Spurs and Suns is crucial for both teams' playoff aspirations. The Spurs are currently second in the West and looking to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot, while the Suns are fighting to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. The outcome of this game could have significant implications on the Western Conference standings as the season enters its final stretch.

The details

The Spurs have been led by the dominant play of Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging a double-double with 24.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. San Antonio has also received contributions from seven players scoring in double digits, showcasing their balanced attack. Meanwhile, the Suns have exceeded preseason expectations despite dealing with injuries to key players like Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Jalen Green. Phoenix currently sits in seventh place in the West, 1.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the final guaranteed playoff spot.

  • The Spurs and Suns will face off on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
  • San Antonio has won six straight games, which is the longest current streak in the league.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The star player for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging a double-double with 24.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

Mitch Johnson

The first-year head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who has helped the team thrive and exceed their win total from last season.

Devin Booker

The star guard for the Phoenix Suns, who has dealt with injuries this season but has helped the team exceed preseason expectations.

Jordan Ott

The head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who has guided the team to a 32-win season and a seventh-place standing in the Western Conference.

Stephon Castle

A guard for the San Antonio Spurs, who has praised head coach Mitch Johnson's ability to put players in the right positions to succeed.

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What they’re saying

“It's my job to set my vision and expectations for the players. And it's their job to bring that to life. When you go through things, you're able to learn from them and take away all the good and the bad. You add it to your mental bank and Rolodex. Hopefully it helps you moving forward.”

— Mitch Johnson, Head Coach, San Antonio Spurs (statenews.net)

“He does a good job of putting us in the right spots to succeed. His main thing is defense, (but) offensively, he gives us a lot of freedom to ... play free.”

— Stephon Castle, Guard, San Antonio Spurs (statenews.net)

“What we're playing for the next 27 games, that's exciting. Every night is going to feel like one of those playoff games when you start fighting for it, so that continues our growth. We're right there, and these guys have put themselves in a position that makes these next handful of games meaningful.”

— Jordan Ott, Head Coach, Phoenix Suns (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Spurs and Suns will conclude their season series on March 19 in San Antonio.

The takeaway

This matchup between the surging Spurs and the resilient Suns highlights the competitive nature of the Western Conference playoff race. Both teams have overcome challenges this season and are now jockeying for position, underscoring the importance of every game down the stretch.