3/06 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Maxey at 28 and Harris at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Embiid (15 straight), Melton (3 straight), Covington (29 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 110, shooting 41 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Kennard at 14 and Stevens at 12 a game. Without Bane (24 straight), Jackson Jr. (3 straight), Pippen Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Philadelphia's 9 and the line, where Memphis takes 25 free throws a game to Philadelphia's 17. Call it Philadelphia 113, Memphis 107.

3/08 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and Oubre Jr. at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Embiid (16 straight), Melton (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 22 a game. Without Daniels (10 straight). 2 days' rest. So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-3 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Philadelphia's 37. Call it New Orleans 115, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/10 @ 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 99 a night and allowing 103, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 20 and Brunson at 18 a game. Without Anunoby (17 straight), Robinson (42 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 24 and Harris at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Maxey (3 straight), Embiid (17 straight), Melton (5 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 112 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 20 free throws a game to New York's 15. Call it New York 111, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/12 @ 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 95 a night and allowing 95, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 18 and Brunson at 18 a game. Without Anunoby (18 straight), Robinson (43 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 23 and Harris at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Maxey (4 straight), Embiid (18 straight), Melton (6 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-5 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 21 free throws a game to New York's 14. Call it New York 107, Philadelphia 105, Philadelphia keeping it close.