3/04 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 20 and Sexton at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Kessler (2 straight), Juzang (3 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 132, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 15 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Poole at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Coulibaly (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Utah allowing 118 a night to Washington's 132 and the line, where Utah takes 24 free throws a game to Washington's 15. Call it Utah 123, Washington 115.

3/06 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 21 and Markkanen at 20 a game. Without Kessler (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and White at 20 a game. Without Craig (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 40 percent from three to Chicago's 30 and the defense, Chicago allowing 111 a night to Utah's 118. Call it Utah 116, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.

3/09 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 22 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Markkanen at 18 a game. Without Markkanen (2 straight), Kessler (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Utah's 120 and the line, where Utah takes 21 free throws a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 118, Utah 111.

3/12 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 21 and Clarkson at 20 a game. Without Markkanen (3 straight), Hendricks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 103 a night to Utah's 123 and the line, where Utah takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 15. Call it Boston 119, Utah 114.