San Antonio Spurs: Margin of error remains narrow

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Apr 8, 2018

SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 23 : Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs and Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs after a basket against the Utah Jazz at AT&T Center on March 23, 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) /

The San Antonio Spurs won a much needed game against the Portland Trail Blazers, but still must fight for a postseason spot.

Even with Sunday’s victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, the San Antonio Spurs did not secure a postseason spot in the Western Conference. There’s still a cluster of teams between No. 4 and 9, with the Spurs in the midst of it and in a three-way tie for the No. 5 seed.

How does everything look on April 8, though? Let’s take a look:

Houston Rockets: 64-16
Golden State Warriors: 57-23, 7 GB
Portland Trail Blazers: 48-32, 16 GB
Utah Jazz: 46-33, 17.5
New Orleans Pelicans: 46-34, 18 GB
San Antonio Spurs: 46-34, 18 GB
Oklahoma City Thunder: 46-34, 18 GB
Minnesota Timberwolves: 45-35, 19 GB
Denver Nuggets: 45-35, 19 GB

At 42-38 and three games back of the No. 8 Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers are out of the mix. However, a five-game winning streak from the Nuggets put them in a tie for the final seed in the West. That’s not only detrimental to the Timberwolves but places the Spurs in another precarious position for their second-to-last game.

So, when the Silver and Black face the Sacramento Kings on Monday, it makes it another must-win scenario. A loss can put them on the outside looking in. The same goes for the Pelicans and Thunder who are also in the mix and won their most recent games.

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Can San Antonio pull off another win and get into the postseason? Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, will determine this against the Kings, in the final home game of the season. Plenty of success has been found at the AT&T Center, so will it continue?