The San Antonio Spurs are sitting pretty near the top of the Western Conference with a 20-7 record, and while their rise has been fueled by their own strong play, they got a little help from an unlikely source: the Houston Rockets. Houston’s win over Denver snapped the Nuggets’ momentum and gave the Spurs the boost they needed to climb into the No. 2 spot. It’s a small shift on paper, but it has big implications for playoff positioning-and for a young team still finding its rhythm, every edge matters.
Let’s break this down. With the Nuggets falling, the Spurs now control their own playoff fate.
They’ve already taken care of business against the West’s elite, notching wins over every team in the top five-except the Lakers, who, frankly, aren’t the juggernaut they once were. That gives San Antonio the head-to-head edge in most tiebreaker scenarios, which could prove crucial as the standings tighten down the stretch.
Now, catching Oklahoma City for the top seed might be a long shot, but that’s not the goal right now. The real win is locking down the 2-seed, which means avoiding the Thunder until a potential Western Conference Finals matchup.
That’s the kind of path you want if you're a team that’s still developing chemistry, still learning how to win when the lights are brightest. And make no mistake-this team is still learning.
But the ceiling? It’s sky-high.
The Spurs have earned this. They’ve battled through a brutal road-heavy schedule and a wave of injuries that would’ve derailed lesser teams.
No excuses. No shortcuts.
Just wins. They’ve beaten nearly every top-tier team they’ve faced-outside of Detroit and Boston-and they’ve done it with a mix of grit, talent, and resilience that’s hard to ignore.
There’s a real conversation to be had about whether this team can win a championship this year. It’s not the most likely outcome, but it’s not out of the question either.
Playoff basketball is a different beast. The pace slows, the pressure mounts, and every possession feels like it could swing a series.
That’s usually where young teams stumble-until they’ve been through it once or twice.
But here’s the twist: this Spurs squad isn’t as green as you might think.
De’Aaron Fox brings playoff experience and veteran leadership. Harrison Barnes has been deep into the postseason before.
Luke Kornet has logged meaningful minutes in big games. Keldon Johnson is in his seventh NBA season and has Olympic gold under his belt from 2020.
And then there’s Victor Wembanyama-already a global star-who helped France reach the Olympic final in 2024 and handled the pressure of an entire nation with poise beyond his years.
Even their recent loss to the Knicks in the Emirates NBA Cup Final might end up being a blessing in disguise. That kind of high-stakes environment builds calluses.
It tests your resolve. And most importantly, it teaches you how to lose together-so you can learn how to win together.
So, should we expect the Spurs to be overwhelmed by playoff intensity? Probably not.
In fact, it might be the opposite. This team has been through enough-individually and collectively-to be ready for what’s coming.
And if they are? Then don’t be surprised if they make a real run at the whole thing.