3/20 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Ayton at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sharpe (31 straight), Hagans (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 21 a game. Without Westbrook (9 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 112, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.

3/22 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Ayton at 23 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Sharpe (32 straight), Hagans (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Powell (2 straight), Westbrook (10 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 13 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-0 a night and the Clippers minus-4. Call it the Clippers 111, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.

3/24 vs PHI — 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 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 28 and Leonard at 25 a game. Without Powell (3 straight), Westbrook (11 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 25 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Embiid (24 straight), Melton (12 straight), Covington (38 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-7. Call it the Clippers 113, Philadelphia 108.

3/25 vs IND — 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 113, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 23 a game. Without Westbrook (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Haliburton at 17 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 22 free throws a game to Indiana's 16. Call it Indiana 117, the Clippers 116, the Clippers keeping it close.