Spurs Poised for Playoff Return as Kings Struggle

San Antonio's turnaround led by Wembanyama contrasts with Sacramento's continued woes

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:08pm

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The San Antonio Spurs, led by rising star Victor Wembanyama, are on a seven-game winning streak and sit second in the Western Conference standings. In contrast, the Sacramento Kings are mired in a 15-game losing streak and own the NBA's worst record at 12-45. The Spurs' resurgence comes just three years after the Kings ended their 16-season playoff drought, a feat that surprised many. Now, the Spurs are expected to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19, while the Kings are struggling to find answers.

Why it matters

The stark contrast between the Spurs and Kings highlights the unpredictable nature of the NBA. While the Spurs' turnaround was anticipated with the arrival of Wembanyama, they have exceeded expectations by achieving this level of success so quickly. The Kings' fall from grace, meanwhile, is a cautionary tale about the difficulty of sustaining success in the league. The game on Saturday will showcase the divergent paths these two franchises have taken in recent years.

The details

The Spurs have been led by Wembanyama, the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year, who has spearheaded their resurgence. Meanwhile, the Kings have been plagued by injuries and poor play, with leading scorer Zach LaVine and leading rebounder Domantas Sabonis both shut down for the season. Sacramento has lost its last three games by an average of 30.3 points, a stark contrast to the Spurs' seven-game winning streak.

  • The Spurs' 138-125 victory over Dallas on Feb. 7 marked their last home game before embarking on a nine-game rodeo trip.
  • The Kings' 131-94 loss to the Magic on Thursday night came as the Spurs were leaving the Moody Center following their 121-94 win over the Suns.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year has led the Spurs' turnaround in his third season, helping the team surge to second place in the Western Conference.

De'Aaron Fox

The former Kings guard, who was traded to the Spurs in 2024, is now an All-Star and a key part of San Antonio's resurgence.

Keegan Murray

The Kings forward expressed frustration with the team's struggles, saying, "I don't really have words to explain it, to be honest."

Doug Christie

The Kings' head coach described the team's current situation as "about as painful as it gets."

Zach LaVine

The Kings' leading scorer has been shut down for the season due to injury, further exacerbating Sacramento's woes.

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What they’re saying

“Every game is going to be meaningful from now on.”

— Victor Wembanyama (expressnews.com)

“I think we're looked at a little differently. Obviously having somebody like Vic and then Steph, Dylan (Harper), myself. I think we're definitely looked at as having the talent. We're surprising people more so with 'we're a little early' part, not the 'we don't have the talent to compete' part.”

— De'Aaron Fox, Guard (expressnews.com)

“I don't really have words to explain it, to be honest. I don't know if anyone has words to explain it. Obviously we have to change something.”

— Keegan Murray, Forward (expressnews.com)

“It's about as painful as it gets.”

— Doug Christie, Head Coach (expressnews.com)

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 game showcases the stark contrast between the resurgent Spurs, led by the rising star Wembanyama, and the struggling Kings, who are mired in a lengthy losing streak and have fallen far from their surprise playoff appearance just three years ago. While the Spurs are poised to end their playoff drought, the Kings' future remains uncertain as they search for answers to turn their fortunes around.