San Antonio Spurs: LaMarcus Aldridge to get MRI on knee injury

The San Antonio Spurs lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a knee injury against the Washington Wizards.

In a season marred with injuries, the San Antonio Spurs were on track to finish it healthy, aside from Kawhi Leonard’s continued absence due to a mysterious quad injury. The team won six of seven games, with just eight to go before the playoffs started. A spot in the postseason was not guaranteed, but the Silver and Black had a cushion to avoid the No. 9 seed.

Well, as of Tuesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards, everything might be up in the air, again. This time, LaMarcus Aldridge left this game due to a left knee contusion. He suffered it before halftime and did not return, as the team officially announced.

INJURY UPDATE: LaMarcus Aldridge (left knee contusion) will not return to tonight's game.

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

According to ESPN.com, Aldridge will have an MRI on his knee to determine the severity of the injury. Head coach Gregg Popovich said he expected the six-time All-Star to be evaluated Wednesday.

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Only seven games remain in the 2017-18 season, and the Spurs still do not have a secured playoff spot. Losing Aldridge for even just one game hurts the team’s chances, especially since the Oklahoma City Thunder will travel to the AT&T Center Thursday night. The Houston Rockets will do the same on Easter Sunday, making it a potentially brutal scenario for a team that needs its leading scorer against two potent offenses.

The Spurs still have a 2.5-game cushion on the No. 9 seed Los Angeles Clippers, who have a tough schedule to close the season. The No. 10 Denver Nuggets faded fast, too. However, if San Antonio cannot pull more than four wins from their final seven games, and if the Clippers go on a hot streak to close the year, then it’s another story. Other variables are at play, including the play of the No. 7 Utah Jazz and No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Can the Spurs defeat two of the Western Conference’s toughest teams, potentially without Aldridge?