{"id":611786,"date":"2026-02-19T14:40:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/611786\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:40:30","slug":"starting-5-feb-19-the-home-stretch-begins-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/611786\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5, Feb. 19: The home stretch begins tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Rev up those engines \u2013 the Playoff push hits full throttle tonight.<\/p>\n

NBA action returns with 10 games, headlined by a Prime doubleheader that begins with a top-3 East duel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Feb. 19, 2026<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Trending \u2013 The Stretch Run: What you need to know before the final postseason push begins<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Trending \u2013 Power Rankings: Schuhmann\u2019s top teams entering the season\u2019s 2nd half<\/p>\n

Tonight On Prime: East beasts clash in Playoff rematch, surging C\u2019s visit Dubs<\/p>\n

League Pass Spotlight: Wemby\u2019s influence takes hold as streaking Spurs host Suns<\/p>\n

More On League Pass: Clippers, Hornets & Cavs look to resume red-hot play<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re back\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

The second half of the season opens with 10 games, including a Prime doubleheader as the East-leading Pistons visit the Knicks (7:30 ET), before the Warriors host the Celtics (10 ET).<\/p>\n

ICYMI: 12-time All-Star Chris Paul, who ranks 2nd in both all-time assists and steals, announced his retirement last Friday<\/a> after 21 NBA seasons. Tap for some of the best work<\/a> from the Point God.<\/p>\n

Mark Your Calendar: See more key dates<\/a> below as teams gear up for the final postseason push.<\/p>\n

April 12: Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
\nApril 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
\nApril 18: NBA Playoffs begin<\/p>\n

1. WHAT\u2019S TRENDING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE STRETCH RUN
\n\"Shai<\/p>\n

Zach Beeker\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fifty-two days.<\/p>\n

That is all that remains of the 2025-26 regular season \u2013 a little more than a month and a half for teams to secure their postseason plans.<\/p>\n

A guaranteed Playoff berth: Top six in each conference
\nA chance to reach the Playoffs through the SoFi Play-In Tournament: Seeds 7-10 in each conference<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, NBA All-Star 2026<\/a> in Los Angeles is officially in the books, punctuated by an electric 75th All-Star Game<\/a> at Intuit Dome, featuring a new U.S. vs. World format.<\/p>\n

Now, the focus shifts to the final regular-season sprint.<\/p>\n

Before tonight\u2019s games tip off, let\u2019s take a look at where things stand after the season\u2019s first 120 days \u2013 along with Shaun Powell\u2019s 10 storylines to watch<\/a> down the stretch.<\/p>\n

\"Standings\"\/<\/p>\n

As the Playoff picture comes into focus, so do the league\u2019s Kia MVP and Rookie of the Year races, with little separating the frontrunners on Powell and Steve Aschburner\u2019s lists.<\/p>\n

Kia MVP Race: The award\u2019s reigning winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has held the top spot on Powell\u2019s Kia MVP Ladder<\/a> for five straight weeks.<\/p>\n

But Nikola Joki\u0107 is in hot pursuit, back from a 16-game absence and entering tonight\u2019s game against the Clippers (10:30, League Pass) with four straight triple-doubles.<\/p>\n

Crowded Top 5: Right behind Joki\u0107? The league\u2019s leading scorer, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 (32.8 ppg), a red-hot Victor Wembanyama and the East-leading Pistons\u2019 engine, Cade Cunningham<\/p>\n

\"Nikola<\/p>\n

Garrett Ellwood + Glenn James\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kia ROY Race: An ultra-talented rookie class has seen three names rise to the top of Aschburner\u2019s Kia Rookie Ladder<\/a>: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe, respectively.<\/p>\n

Flagg Flying: Fresh off a historic heater,<\/a> Flagg is on pace to be the first rookie since Michael Jordan (1984-85) to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals
\nKon Cooking: Pushing Flagg for the top spot is Knueppel \u2013 his former Duke teammate \u2013 who ranks 2nd in the NBA in made 3s (183) while shooting 43.1% from deep
\nPhilly\u2019s Edge: Just behind the former Blue Devils, Edgecombe has flashed his two-way athleticism and is coming off an MVP performance<\/a> in the Castrol Rising Stars showcase<\/p>\n

Milestones To Watch: Beyond the award races, key benchmarks and historical numbers<\/a> remain in play as the regular season winds down, headlined by Kevin Durant\u2019s climb up the all-time scoring list.<\/p>\n

Durant needs 431 points to pass Michael Jordan (31,562) for No. 5 all-time
\nLeBron James needs 15 games played to pass Robert Parish (1,611) for No. 1 all-time
\nJames needs 55 field goals to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for No. 1 all-time
\nSteph Curry needs 50 points to pass Tim Duncan (26,496) for No. 18 all-time<\/p>\n

2. WHAT\u2019S TRENDING: SCHUHMANN\u2019S TOP TEAMS ENTERING THE FINAL STRETCH<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve seen the standings, but how do the league\u2019s elite stack up entering the season\u2019s second half?<\/p>\n

John Schuhmann\u2019s latest Power Rankings offer a snapshot of the current landscape.<\/p>\n

See one defining trend for each of his top five squads below:<\/p>\n

Pistons: Detroit went into the All-Star break with a three-game winning streak, the league\u2019s best record, and the best record (17-6) in games played between the 16 teams that are currently over .500.<\/p>\n

Spurs: San Antonio has the league\u2019s longest active winning streak (six games) and is just two games in the loss column behind OKC, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.<\/p>\n

Thunder: The defending champs are the only team that ranks in the top five on both ends of the floor. They\u2019ve outscored their opponents by 11.7 ppg, which would be the fifth-best mark in NBA history.<\/p>\n

Knicks: New York has the league\u2019s biggest home-road differentials in regard to winning percentage (21-7 vs. 13-13) and point differential per 100 possessions (plus-10.1 vs. plus-1.6).<\/p>\n

Nuggets: Denver is the only team that ranks in the top 10 in field goal percentage in the paint (59.2%, 7th), mid-range field goal percentage (44.5%, 5th) and 3-point percentage (39.5%, 1st).<\/p>\n

Rounding Out The Top 10: Celtics (6), Cavaliers (7), Rockets (8), Wolves (9), Suns (10).<\/p>\n

For Schuhmann\u2019s full Power Rankings and analysis, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. TONIGHT ON PRIME: PISTONS-KNICKS, CELTICS-WARRIORS<\/p>\n

\"Karl-Anthony<\/p>\n

The Pistons were in a much different place at this time two seasons ago. Coming out of the All-Star break, they sat dead-last in the East with an 8-46 record.<\/p>\n

Now, they not only enter the stretch run with the East\u2019s top record, but also the best winning percentage in the NBA.<\/p>\n

Tonight (7:30 ET, Prime), the Pistons take on the Knicks in a matchup with heavy Playoff implications, featuring the East\u2019s 1st- and 3rd-place squads.<\/p>\n

Favorable History: In their two previous matchups this season, Detroit won, including a 38-point victory Feb. 6 that snapped an eight-game winning streak for New York
\nWinning Formula: While Cade Cunningham fuels the offense, Detroit\u2019s defense has forced 17.2 turnovers per 100 possessions \u2013 the highest rate for any team in the last six seasons<\/p>\n

The Knicks have been on a roll of their own. They\u2019ve claimed 10 of their last 12 contests, outscoring opponents by an average of 17.5 ppg.<\/p>\n

Secret Sauce: Defense has made the difference. From Jan. 21 through Feb. 11, New York\u2019s 101.4 DefRtg ranked 1st in the Association
\nMidseason Boost: The team also acquired Jose Alvarado before the trade deadline. In his first three outings, he\u2019s averaged 14.0 ppg with 45.5% shooting from deep
\n\u201cThere\u2019s so many things you could say about him,\u201d said Jalen Brunson on Alvarado. \u201cBut he works hard and wants to help the team win. That\u2019s all he wants to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jaylen<\/p>\n

Jaylen Brown returns to action following his fifth All-Star appearance and first as a starter. The rest of the Celtics will join him out West to face the Warriors tonight (10 ET, Prime).<\/p>\n

Feeling Lucky: Boston has produced the league\u2019s No. 2 offense, and Brown has been at the forefront with career-high marks of 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game
\nRecovery Road: Jayson Tatum has stressed he\u2019s not sure if he\u2019s coming back this season, though his rehab from last season\u2019s Achilles injury hit a big milestone last week, when he practiced<\/a> with the Maine Red Claws
\nPotential Porzi\u0146\u0123is Boost? On the other side, former Celtic Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is (questionable) could make his Warriors debut tonight following a trade from the Hawks
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a legitimate 3-pointer shooter and rim-protector. It\u2019s tough to find that combination in one player,\u201d said coach Steve Kerr. \u201cWe\u2019ve never really had a player quite like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. LEAGUE PASS SPOTLIGHT: WEMBY\u2019S STREAKING SPURS HOST SUNS<\/p>\n

\"Devin<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to go back with my team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama had just paced the World Team on Sunday with a team-high 33 total points.<\/p>\n

Yet the excitement surrounding San Antonio\u2019s turnaround was top of mind post-game.<\/p>\n

Having already won four more games than they did all of last season, the young Spurs sit just 3 games behind their rival Thunder atop the West.<\/p>\n

Wemby\u2019s shown time and time again \u2014 including during the All-Star Game \u2014 that he can bring the best out of everyone on the floor.<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019ll look to bring his team to another level, as the Spurs look for their first postseason berth since 2019 and first Conference semifinals since 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a game I personally cherish, so being competitive is the least I can do,\u201d Wemby said after his Team World performance
\n\u201cWemby set the tone,\u201d All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards said. \u201cHe came out playing hard, so it\u2019s hard not to match that.\u201d
\n\u201cThe way he carries himself is fantastic for this game,\u201d Jalen Brunson said of Wemby\u2019s performance<\/p>\n

As The Athletic\u2019s Jared Weiss writes, Wemby\u2019s influential All-Star Weekend ended up being about more than just in-game results:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end, he played just as he promised, but didn\u2019t win once Sunday \u2026 But he may have won something grander in scale.<\/p>\n

\u2026 Wembanyama\u2019s emergence as one of the faces of the league has come as much off the floor as on the hardwood. | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

Tonight on League Pass (8:30 ET), Wemby looks to lead the 2nd-place Spurs to their seventh straight win, hosting a Suns team rising into the Playoff picture.<\/p>\n

5. MORE ON LEAGUE PASS: CLIPS, HORNETS & CAVS AIM TO STAY HOT
\n\"Kawhi<\/p>\n

Juan Ocampo\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

After successfully hosting the basketball world for All-Star Weekend, the Clippers look to continue their comeback story when play resumes tonight.<\/p>\n

With the NBA\u2019s best record dating back to Dec. 20 (20-7), LA returns home to Intuit Dome for the first time since Feb. 4.<\/p>\n

Kawhi was there on Sunday though, showing the league\u2019s best exactly how he\u2019s helped bring the Clips back from the bottom of the standings, with an All-Star-high 37 total points.<\/p>\n

Nuggets at Clippers (10:30 ET): Surging superstars Leonard and Nikola Joki\u0107 collide as the Clippers look to continue basketball excellence in LA.<\/p>\n

The Climb: In the Playoff picture as the No. 10 seed (26-28), LA looks to become the first-ever team to finish over .500 after a 6-21 start or worse
\nPosting Up: Elevated offense and another 20+ triple-double season from Joker have the Nuggets in 3rd place in the crowded West, with just 1.5 games separating them from 6th place<\/p>\n

\"Kon<\/p>\n

Cooper Neill + Nick Cammett\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

While LA has the NBA\u2019s best record since Dec. 20, nobody\u2019s currently hotter than the Hornets and Cavs, both winners of nine of their last ten games.<\/p>\n

Rockets at Hornets (7 ET): Charlotte is 15-7 in 2026, tied for the most wins in the NBA since Jan. 1.<\/p>\n

Backcourt Buzz: The Hornets\u2019 strong stretch has been fueled by offensive chemistry from LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and rookie total points leader Kon Knueppel (1,021 pts)
\nTop-5 Test: Charlotte\u2019s 2nd-ranked offense (119.5 OffRtg) in the New Year takes on a Houston defense that\u2019s ranked top-5 for the season (112.0 DefRtg)<\/p>\n

Nets at Cavaliers (7 ET): Amid a 10-1 overall run, the Cavs are winners of five straight, with a 3-0 mark since adding James Harden at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Double Clutch: Harden (19.3 ppg, 8.7 ast) has added the league\u2019s most clutch points (13) in those three games, with Donovan Mitchell tied for the 3rd-most (10)<\/p>\n

Four more games tip off on League Pass, including All-Star teammates Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Johnson facing off as the Sixers host the Hawks (7 ET).<\/p>\n

Pacers at Wizards (7 ET)
\nRaptors at Bulls (8 ET)
\nMagic at Kings (10 ET)<\/p>\n