3/02 vs ATL — 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.

3/04 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 99, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Bridges at 17 and Cam. Johnson at 17 a game. Without Thomas (3 straight), Clowney (6 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 110, shooting 40 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 26 and Jackson at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Bane (23 straight), Jackson Jr. (2 straight), Pippen Jr. (7 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-5 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 99 a night to Memphis's 110. Call it Brooklyn 111, Memphis 102.

3/05 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 100, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 18 and Schröder at 17 a game. Without Thomas (4 straight), Clowney (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Harris at 19 a game. Without Embiid (14 straight), Melton (2 straight), Covington (28 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 100 a night to Philadelphia's 113 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 12 times a game to Philadelphia's 9. Call it Brooklyn 112, Philadelphia 109, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/07 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 22 and Fontecchio at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Evbuomwan (4 straight), Grimes (2 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 17 and Cam. Johnson at 17 a game. Without Thomas (5 straight), Clowney (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Brooklyn at 40 percent from three to Detroit's 32. Call it Brooklyn 111, Detroit 110, Detroit keeping it close.