2/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight), Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 17 a game. Without Zubac (9 straight), Tucker (31 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 111 a night to Miami's 119. Call it the Clippers 117, Miami 112.

2/05 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 135 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Krejčí (21 straight), Fernando (7 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Tucker (32 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 121, the Clippers 120, the Clippers keeping it close.

2/07 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (33 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to New Orleans's 34 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it the Clippers 119, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.

2/10 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Tucker (34 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ivey at 25 and Cunningham at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Stewart (5 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers plus-1. Call it the Clippers 123, Detroit 115.