2/29 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 91 a night and allowing 110, shooting 40 percent and 28 from three, 15 free throws a game; Thomas at 14 and Bridges at 12 a game. Without Clowney (4 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Hunter at 21 and Murray at 19 a game. Without Young (2 straight), Okongwu (4 straight), Krejčí (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-4 and the line, where Atlanta takes 23 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 15. Call it Atlanta 115, Brooklyn 111, Brooklyn keeping it close.

3/02 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Thomas at 17 and Schröder at 14 a game. Without Thomas (2 straight), Clowney (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Hunter at 19 a game. Without Young (3 straight), Okongwu (5 straight), Krejčí (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 103 a night to Atlanta's 112 and the line, where Atlanta takes 21 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 15. Call it Brooklyn 113, Atlanta 110, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/05 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and DiVincenzo at 20 a game. Without Randle (15 straight), Anunoby (15 straight), Robinson (40 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Hunter at 17 a game. Without Young (4 straight), Okongwu (6 straight), Krejčí (5 straight). 2 days' rest. So: New York wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New York 113, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/06 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Johnson at 18 a game. Without Young (5 straight), Okongwu (7 straight), Krejčí (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Garland at 19 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Mitchell (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 44 percent from three to Atlanta's 34 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-6. Call it Atlanta 114, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.