San Antonio Spurs: Be frightened by this schedule

The San Antonio Spurs have a fright-night schedule for the rest of the season.

The San Antonio Spurs will limp into their final 19 games of the season after Saturday’s heart-breaking loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. It dropped the Silver and Black to No. 6 in the Western Conference, but within a game of No. 3 and a game of No. 8. Two games if the No. 9 seed, and a potential spot outside the playoff mix, counts.

Well, to get to the promise land, the Spurs must overcome a schedule that needs a “Not Suitable for Work (NSFW)” warning or another label to caution how this brutal looks. It’s one this team might have to win at least half of, to secure their postseason hopes.

Let’s dive in:

• Mar. 5: Memphis Grizzlies – The “cold open,” as they say on Saturday Night Live.
• Mar. 8: Golden State Warriors – The Spurs lost both games to the Warriors this season. It’s never a good time to face them, but, with the current standings, San Antonio must win this.
• Mar. 10: Oklahoma City Thunder – Part two of this dangerous stretch.
• Mar. 12: Houston Rockets – It’s hardly been a contest when these teams play. As long as Kawhi Leonard remains out, the Spurs have a tall task here.
• Mar. 13: Orlando Magic – The Magic obliterated the Spurs in the first part of the season. That was over four months ago, and both teams look different than Oct. 27, 2017.
• Mar. 15: New Orleans Pelicans – These teams recently played, and the Spurs should have secured a win then. In under two weeks, let’s see if Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge are around.
• Mar. 17: Minnesota Timberwolves – No Jimmy Butler helps, but keeping up with Karl-Anthony Towns will not.
• Mar. 19: Golden State Warriors – Another one bites the dust.
• Mar. 21: Washington Wizards – The first of two games these teams will play in a six-day stretch. If John Wall is back from injury, this could be another difficult matchup.
• Mar. 23: Utah Jazz – Utah gave the Spurs fits in their previous three matchups.
• Mar. 25: Milwaukee Bucks – A November battle saw a mostly tight score, but the Bucks pulled away with former head coach Jason Kidd.
• Mar. 27: Washington Wizards – See previous.
• Mar. 29: Oklahoma City Thunder – Not ideal for the final two weeks of the season.
• Apr. 1: Houston Rockets – April Fools?
• Apr. 3: Los Angeles Clippers – This game has the potential to be interesting, especially if the Spurs continue to lose and the Clippers remain at No. 8 or No. 9 in the West.
• Apr. 4: Los Angeles Lakers – The Lakers just defeated the Spurs and are on a streak, but this will be one that’s expected to see a change in the final score.
• Apr. 7: Portland Trail Blazers – Portland snuck up to No. 3 in the West, and will not be an easy foe this late in the season.
• Apr. 9: Sacramento Kings – The easiest game that remains.
• Apr. 11: New Orleans Pelicans – A game that might determine playoff seeding.

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There’s nothing for the Spurs or their fans to love about this schedule. It’s a difficult road that will go through almost every playoff team in the Western Conference. Do not expect another 50-win season in the Alamo City, but for this team to navigate their way through this — if health prevails.