3/12 @ UTA — 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.

3/14 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Okogie (5 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10 and the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Boston 117, Phoenix 111.

3/17 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Avdija at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Bagley III (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-13 and the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Washington's 33. Call it Boston 120, Washington 110, Boston by 10.

3/18 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Cunningham at 20 and Fontecchio at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Brown Jr. (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 43 percent from three to Detroit's 32 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-11 a night and Boston plus-0. Call it Boston 120, Detroit 108, Boston by 12.