2/12 vs MIN — 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 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 18 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Tucker (35 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 3 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 117. Call it the Clippers 115, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.

2/14 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Kuminga at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Paul (16 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (36 straight). One day's rest. So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-14 a night and the Clippers minus-6 and the line, where the Clippers take 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 17. Call it Golden State 119, the Clippers 112.

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.