2/22 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 8 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (37 straight). 7 days' rest. So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 29 free throws a game to OKC's 20 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-6 a night and OKC minus-11. Call it OKC 121, the Clippers 118, the Clippers keeping it close.

2/23 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and Jackson at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Bane (18 straight), Pippen Jr. (2 straight), LaRavia (17 straight). 7 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 19 and George at 19 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Theis (2 straight), Tucker (38 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 18 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 120. Call it Memphis 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.

2/25 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and George at 21 a game. Without Theis (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Sacramento's 18. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.

2/28 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 20 and Harden at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (14 straight), Vanderbilt (9 straight), Vincent (31 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-7 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 34. Call it the Clippers 118, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.