San Antonio Spurs: Injuries causing playoff pain

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are sitting in sixth in the West with a 38-28 record. The Timberwolves only have 16 games remaining, but it is a relatively easy schedule after the next five games.

Their next three games are against the Boston Celitcs, Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards. There is a strong probability they will lose all three of these games.

The Timberwolves then play the Spurs and Houston Rockets, which they should split. From there, the Timberwolves play three games against current playoff teams. Two of these are against the Denver Nuggets and one is against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The other eight games they play before the regular season ends are against non-playoff teams. This includes games against the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and two games against the Memphis Grizzlies.

This means that in the 16 games left the Timberwolves should have a record near 11-5. This will take them to an overall record of 49-33, which should see them safely in the playoffs.

If the Spurs do win 50 percent of their remaining 18 games, that would give them a 46-36 record, pushing them below the Timberwolves at season’s end. This will leave them fighting with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the seventh seed.