3/18 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Vučević at 19 a game. Without White (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ayton at 27 and Simons at 25 a game. Without Sharpe (30 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the line, where Chicago takes 24 free throws a game to Portland's 16 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to Chicago's 13. Call it Chicago 115, Portland 110.

3/20 vs LAC — 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 vs LAC — 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.

3/23 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ayton at 21 and Simons at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Sharpe (33 straight), Thybulle (2 straight), Hagans (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Porter Jr. at 23 a game. One day's rest. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 103 a night to Portland's 116 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 114, Portland 107.