NBA Weekly Roundup: Spurs Surge as Kings Find Redemption
Welcome to your weekly NBA wrap-up for Tuesday, February 24, 2026. As we push deeper into the second half of the 2025/26 season, the atmosphere across the league has shifted. We are no longer in the mid-season doldrums; we are in the hunt. This week was defined by a heavyweight clash in Texas, the end of a historic nightmare in Sacramento, and significant news regarding the future of Team USA basketball.
The Silver and Black Juggernaut
The biggest story of the week comes out of San Antonio. The Spurs are officially the hottest team in basketball, extending their winning streak to nine games following a grueling victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. This wasn’t just another notch in the win column; it was a physical, playoff-intensity battle that many are already labeling a potential NBA Finals preview. The Pistons brought the fight, testing the Spurs’ resolve in the paint, but San Antonio proved they have the grit to match their talent. For a team that has been building toward this moment, winning nine straight while passing a ‘litmus test’ against the East’s best suggests the Spurs are no longer just contenders—they might be the favorites.
Kings Break the Curse and Legal Clearances
In Northern California, the mood has finally shifted from despair to relief. The Sacramento Kings entered the week carrying the weight of a 16-game losing streak, the longest in the history of the franchise. That skid finally came to an end on the road, powered by a vintage 25-point performance from Russell Westbrook. It wasn’t pretty, but for a Kings squad that had forgotten the taste of victory, it was essential. Whether this spark can lead to a late-season surge remains to be seen, but for one night, the bleeding has stopped.
Off the court, the legal cloud hanging over veteran guard Patrick Beverley has dissipated. A grand jury returned a no-bill in his assault case stemming from an arrest last fall. With no indictment, Beverley can now focus entirely on his professional future, providing some much-needed clarity for the player and his representation as the league moves toward the final stretch of the season.
The Injury Bug Bites Hard
While some teams are finding their rhythm, others are being decimated by the grueling schedule. The Utah Jazz received devastating news this week as center Jusuf Nurkic has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Nurkic is set to undergo nose surgery, leaving a massive void in the Jazz’s interior defense. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns are bracing for a difficult month without Dillon Brooks. Sources indicate the defensive specialist will be sidelined for four to six weeks. For a Suns team fighting for optimal playoff seeding, losing their primary perimeter stopper is a significant hurdle that will test their bench depth.
Looking Toward the Horizon: LA 2028
The NBA isn’t the only thing on the minds of the league’s elite. Kevin Durant made headlines this week by confirming to ESPN that he plans to suit up for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. At a time when many are analyzing the transition of power to the younger generation, Durant’s commitment to Team USA four years out is a bold statement of longevity. It also sets the stage for what could be a historic Olympic cycle on home soil, ensuring that the ‘old guard’ still has a major part to play in the global game.
What to Watch Next Week
The upcoming week is headlined by a major comeback. All eyes will be on New Orleans this Tuesday as Dejounte Murray is expected to return to the court against the Golden State Warriors. After recovering from a ruptured Achilles, Murray’s return is a massive storyline for a Pelicans team looking to solidify their postseason rotation. We will also be tracking the Spurs as they look to push their winning streak into double digits and seeing how the Suns’ coaching staff reorganizes their defense in the absence of Dillon Brooks. The road to the playoffs is getting narrower, and every game now carries the weight of the postseason.
