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San Antonio Spurs: LaMarcus Aldridge’s status in doubt vs. Thunder

By Rob Wolkenbrod

SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 15: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs as Nikola Mitotic #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans hangs his head in closing seconds of game at AT&T Center on March 15, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 15: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs as Nikola Mitotic #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans hangs his head in closing seconds of game at AT&T Center on March 15, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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The San Antonio Spurs will be without Kawhi Leonard against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but another player joins him on the injury report.

The San Antonio Spurs continue to dive into their final stretch of the 2017-18 season, with a playoff spot on the line. The last two games did not support this, as the Silver and Black fell to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards on the road. It makes Thursday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder that much more important for any postseason hope.

However, against the Wizards, the Spurs lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a left knee contusion. He did not play after the first half.

For the Thunder game, it’s unknown if San Antonio will have its leading scorer available. He’s officially “questionable” with the aforementioned knee injury. Kawhi Leonard remains out to rehab his right quadriceps.

LaMarcus Aldridge (left knee contusion) is questionable for tomorrow’s Spurs-Thunder game. Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management) is out. pic.twitter.com/V6NbsL4DDL

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 28, 2018

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Leonard’s absence should not surprise anyone. At this point, it will not be a stunner if he never takes the court before the 2018-19 season starts. Just six more games follow Thursday’s, which might not be enough time to get the former MVP candidate ready, even though the team can use him now more than ever to claw into the postseason.

As for Aldridge, without him, the team is in trouble. It’s difficult to see any silver lining of this, since the rest of the roster does not have the track record to pick up the slack. Maybe if we traveled back in time to 2011 or 2012, with Tony Parker in his prime and Manu Ginobili still in sixth-man mode, but this roster does not have that kind of player to support Aldridge. Of course, if Leonard played, that would change everything, but that’s not the case.

Next: Top 25 players in Spurs history

The Spurs and Thunder will go head-to-head at 8:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

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