NBA Swing: Five Teams to Watch Heading into the Final Stretch

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The NBA has officially entered the home stretch of the 2025–26 season. As of February 21, 2026, most teams have roughly 25 games remaining to determine their playoff seeding or lottery odds. While the hierarchy is beginning to crystallize, several storylines across both conferences are set to define the final two months of the regular season.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have emerged as one of the league’s most surprising stories this winter. Charlotte recently enjoyed a season-altering stretch, winning 10 of 11 games, including a nine-game winning streak that catapulted them into the postseason conversation. Brandon Miller has firmly established himself as the team’s primary scoring option, while LaMelo Ball has effectively pivoted into a high-level floor general role. Perhaps the biggest revelation has been rookie Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick, who is averaging 18.8 PPG and 5.5 RPG while shooting a lethal 43.2% from three. Currently sitting in the 10th seed at 26–31, the Hornets hold a two-game cushion over the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. With Miami and Orlando just a few games ahead, Charlotte is within striking distance of the 7th or 8th seed, which would grant them two chances in the Play-In Tournament.

Boston Celtics

Despite losing Jayson Tatum to a devastating Achilles tear during the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Celtics remain a championship juggernaut. Jaylen Brown has carried the mantle with an MVP-caliber campaign, averaging career-highs of 29.3 PPG and 4.9 APG. The supporting cast has been equally vital, with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard both averaging 17.2 PPG. To bolster their interior presence for a deep run, Boston acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Bulls at the trade deadline. At 36–19, they sit in the 2nd seed, just 1.5 games ahead of the Knicks and Cavaliers. The wildcard remains Tatum’s status; while he is 40 weeks into his rehab and has expressed a desire to return, the team has not yet committed to him seeing the floor before the postseason.

Houston Rockets

While the Rockets are enjoying a resurgent season on the court at 34–20, off-court drama threatened to derail their momentum during the All-Star break. Allegations surfaced regarding a potential “burner account” on X (formerly Twitter) linked to Kevin Durant, which allegedly criticized teammates Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. Durant has dismissed the rumors as “Twitter nonsense,” but the locker room chemistry will be under the microscope as they fight to maintain the 3rd seed in a crowded Western Conference. Houston currently holds a slim lead over the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, making this final stretch critical to avoiding the Play-In gauntlet.

Golden State Warriors

It has been a season of attrition for the Warriors, who sit at 29–27 and occupy the 8th seed in the West. The team was rocked in late January when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear. After failing to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster pursuit, the front office pivoted at the deadline, trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis. With Stephen Curry also sidelined recently with minor lingering injuries, the Warriors are essentially in survival mode. They hold a 2.5-game lead over the Clippers and Trail Blazers, but their ceiling in the playoffs remains entirely dependent on the health of their veteran core.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, entering the final stretch with a 9–1 record in their last 10 games. In a high-risk move at the trade deadline, Cleveland sent Darius Garland to the Clippers in exchange for James Harden. The early returns have been seamless; Harden has averaged 19.3 PPG and 8.7 APG in his first few outings, serving as the perfect veteran foil to Donovan Mitchell. Now 35–21 and tied with the Knicks for the 3rd seed, the “new-look” Cavs are chasing Boston for the Atlantic Division crown. Their mettle will be tested immediately, with upcoming matchups against Oklahoma City, New York, and Detroit.