3/08 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 110, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 22 and Brunson at 21 a game. Without Anunoby (16 straight), Robinson (41 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 95, shooting 55 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and F. Wagner at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-10 a night and New York minus-1 and the defense, Orlando allowing 95 a night to New York's 110. Call it Orlando 110, New York 106, New York keeping it close.

3/10 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 103, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 20 and Brunson at 18 a game. Without Anunoby (17 straight), Robinson (42 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 24 and Harris at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Maxey (3 straight), Embiid (17 straight), Melton (5 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 112 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 20 free throws a game to New York's 15. Call it New York 111, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/12 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 95, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 18 and Brunson at 18 a game. Without Anunoby (18 straight), Robinson (43 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 23 and Harris at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Maxey (4 straight), Embiid (18 straight), Melton (6 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-5 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 21 free throws a game to New York's 14. Call it New York 107, Philadelphia 105, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/14 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ayton at 28 and Simons at 26 a game. Without Sharpe (28 straight), Walker (4 straight), Hagans (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 89, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 12 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 18 and Brunson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Robinson (44 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 89 a night to Portland's 118 and the line, where Portland takes 20 free throws a game to New York's 12. Call it New York 110, Portland 105.